Both former All-Stars in the American League, neither Damion Easley nor Carlos Delgado were members of the Florida Marlins for very long. The two combined to play just three seasons in teal, but on this day 20 years ago, their presence was felt in South Florida.
After trailing 3-0 late, Easley and Delgado provided the heroics. Following a game-tying home run from Easley in the ninth, Delgado sent the home crowd away happy with a walk-off double in the 10th as Florida defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in extras, 4-3.
Entering the bottom of the eighth at Dolphins Stadium on May 24, 2005, the Marlins were on the short end of a 3-0 score. Thanks to a balk by Philadelphia’s Ryan Madson and an RBI groundout from Florida catcher Paul Lo Duca, the Marlins were able to push a pair of runs across in the inning. In the bottom of the ninth, however, the Phillies were an out away from securing the victory.
Against now Hall of Fame closer Billy Wagner, Easley was able to get ahead in the count against the hard-throwing lefty. Wagner’s 3-1 fastball was left out over the middle of the plate and Easley pulled a no-doubter over the “teal tower” in left field to draw the Marlins even at 3-3.
After Florida reliever John Riedling was able to strand Jimmy Rollins at second in the top of the 10th, Joe Dillion started the Marlins’ half of the inning by drawing a six-pitch walk from Amaury Telemaco. Telemaco bounced back to strike out Jeff Conine before getting Lo Duca to line out, but with Delgado coming to the plate, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel went to the left-hander in the bullpen.
Aaron Fultz threw just one pitch for the Phillies, but it was tomahawked by Delgado into the right-center field gap and rolled all the way to the wall. Dillon scored from first without a throw to complete the Marlins’ comeback.
Rollins finished with three hits, a run scored and an RBI for the Phillies. Chase Utley and David Bell each went 2-for-4 with an RBI in the loss.
Easley had two of the six hits for Florida, but none were bigger than his game-tying blast in the ninth. It came in a thrilling Marlins victory on this day two decades ago.