MARLINS CLINCH NL WILDCARD
Banks Walk-Off Caps Late Comeback
MIAMI, Sept. 27 (AP) - Brian Banks' double into the left field corner in the
bottom of the ninth inning scored Miguel Cabrera with the game-winning run as
the Florida Marlins finally locked up the National League wildcard spot with a
3-2 comeback victory over the New York Mets at Pro Player Stadium. The
runner-up St. Louis Cardinals had kept the pressure on the Marlins all week long
with a string of victories but, after snapping an ugly four-game losing streak
with a dramatic extra inning win over the Phillies on Thursday, Florida won its
third straight in the playoff-clinching effort.
Marlins starter Mike Redman pitched into the seventh inning, but left trailing
2-1. Florida had taken a lead off Mets starter Jae Weong Seo with a run in
the fourth. Juan Pierre singled to lead-off the inning, advanced to second
base on a wild pitch and scored one out later on Mike Redmond's base hit.
The Mets got to Redman in the sixth inning. Jason Phillips drew a one-out
walk and, after Ty Wigginton struck out, moved to second when Raul Gonzalez
coaxed another free pass from Redman. Vance Wilson tied the game by
scoring Phillips on a single to left field.
New York then took the lead, and drove Redman from the game, in the
seventh. Prentice Redman singled to open the frame and Seo sacrificed him
to second. Roger Cedeno then made it to 2-1 with a run-scoring single to
right-center field. Nate Bump replaced Mark Redman on the mound and he
retired the Mets without any further damage.
The Marlins tied the game, suddenly, in the bottom of the eighth. Seo, who
was pitching brilliantly, having allowed only four hits through seven, retired
pinch hitter Todd Hollandsworth and Andy Fox to open the inning, but Ramon
Castro pinch hit for Bump and drilled the first pitch he saw into the left field
stands above the out of town scoreboard, knotting the contest at two.
Miguel Tejera worked a scoreless top of the ninth, pitching around a single and
a walk. In the bottom of the frame, Redmond grounded out to start the
inning, but Cabrera bounced a single through the box. Lenny Harris worked
the count full, then drew a walk, putting runners on first and second.
After a conference at the mound, the Mets decided to stick with Seo and Banks
roped a 2-2 offering down the right field line for a game-winning double.
With the wildcard slot filled, the NL playoff picture is settled. The
divisional round will have the Atlanta Braves, the league's top seed, hosting
the San Francisco Giants while the Marlins will travel to Houston to take on the
Astros.
9/27/2003, NYM03-Fla03, Pro Player Stadium 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 2003 Mets 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 8 0 8 0 2003 Marlins 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 3 8 1 5 2 Mets AB R H BI AVG Marlins AB R H BI AVG Cedeno rf 5 0 1 1 .271 Pierre cf 4 1 2 0 .272 McEwing ss 3 0 0 0 .216 Mordecai ss 4 0 0 0 .118 Watson,Mat ph 1 0 0 0 .318 Redmond c 4 0 1 1 .288 Bell,J ss 0 0 0 0 .252 Cabrera,M 3b 4 1 3 0 .280 Phillips,JL 1b 3 1 0 0 .293 Harris,L rf 3 0 0 0 .229 Wigginton 3b 4 0 0 0 .245 Banks 1b 4 0 1 1 .255 Gonzalez,R lf 3 0 1 0 .260 Williams,G lf 2 0 0 0 .125 Wilson,V c 4 0 1 1 .252 Hollandsworth ph 1 0 0 0 .247 Garcia,D 2b 3 0 0 0 .228 Lee,De 1b 0 0 0 0 .268 Redman,P cf 4 1 3 0 .214 Fox,A 2b 3 0 0 0 .071 Seo p 2 0 2 0 .218 Redman,M p 2 0 0 0 .032 32 2 8 2 Bump p 0 0 0 0 .000 Castro,R ph 1 1 1 1 .283 Tejera p 0 0 0 0 .118 32 3 8 3 Mets INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA Seo L 7-12 8.1 8 3 3 1 6 123 85 3.76 8.1 8 3 3 1 6 123 85 Marlins INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA Redman,M 6.1 7 2 2 2 6 91 62 3.14 Bump 1.2 0 0 0 0 1 18 13 6.25 Tejera W 9-5 1.0 1 0 0 1 1 10 6 4.50 9.0 8 2 2 3 8 119 81 NYM: Watson,Mat batted for McEwing in the 7th Bell,J inserted at ss in the 7th Fla: Hollandsworth batted for Williams,G in the 8th Castro,R batted for Bump in the 8th Banks moved to lf in the 9th Lee,De inserted at 1b in the 9th E-Cabrera,M. 2B-Pierre(31), Banks(7). HR-Castro,R(2). RBI-Cedeno(39), Wilson,V(28), Redmond(18), Banks(15), Castro,R(2). SB-Redman,P(1). CS-Cabrera,M. K-Cedeno, McEwing, Phillips,JL, Wigginton 3, Garcia,D, Redman,P, Mordecai, Harris,L 2, Banks 2, Fox,A. BB-Phillips,JL, Gonzalez,R, Garcia,D, Harris,L. SH-Seo 2. WP-Seo. GWRBI: Banks Temperature: 84, Sky: clear, Wind: out to center at 1 MPH. Attendance: 31,144 Game Time: 2:42