Top 10 Moments of the 2014 Marlins Season
By Danielle Needles
Can you believe Opening Day is in 10 days?!
There is plenty to look forward to from your #FightinFish as they look to build momentum off last year. With a final record of 77–85 in 2014, the Marlins were the third National League team since 1969 to win 77-or-more games after losing 100-or-more in the previous season.
Among those 77 wins were MANY big game moments. In honor of 10 days until Opening Day, take a walk down memory lane with us as we recap, in chronological order, the top 10 moments of the Marlins’ 2014 season:
10) March 31st — Opening Night — Reigning Rookie of the Year Jose Fernandez took the mound and threw the first pitch in front of a record-setting sellout crowd at Marlins Park to kick off the 2014 season against the Colorado Rockies. According to Manager Mike Redmond, “Jose set the tone” for the entire evening and the rest of the Fish followed suit. Jose ended Opening Day with nine strikeouts, Marcell Ozuna homered and had three hits, and Casey McGehee kicked off his comeback year with two doubles and four RBI. The Marlins beat the Rockies 10–1, and Jose improved to 10–0 with a 1.21 ERA at home, all while his mom and abuela cheered in the crowd.
9) April 18th — Walk-Off Grand Slam — With Yoervis Medina on the mound for the Mariners, the Marlins had bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th. Who was at bat next? None other than Giancarlo Stanton, of course. With no outs and the bases loaded, Giancarlo hits the ball approximately 407 feet, ending the game with a final score of 8–4. Not only was this homer the 123rd of Giancarlo’s career at the time, it was his second career walk-off grand slam. What a game!
Video: http://m.mlb.com/video/?topic_id=vtp_budweiser&content_id=32185619
8) April 29th — May 7th Homestand — Your #FightinFish won nine out of 10 games when they faced the Braves, Dodgers and Mets. Not only did they win 90 percent of their games, but fans at Marlins Park witnessed three walk-offs in a span of four days!
May 4th: Jeff Baker walk-off hit vs. the Dodgers (5–4 final score)
May 5th: Casey McGehee walk-off hit vs. the Mets (4–3 final score)
May 7th: Marcell walk-off sac-fly vs. the Mets (1–0 final score)
7) June 3rd — Henderson Does It Again — A little over two months into the season, Henderson threw his third shutout in 2014 on 88 pitches in a 1–0 win over the Rays at Marlins Park. Let us repeat that again — THIRD — shutout in a span of two months. It was his third consecutive complete game shutout against Interleague teams (remember that no-hitter vs. Detroit in 2013?). It’s safe to say that this was one way that Henderson secured a spot on the 2014 All-Star Game roster.
Video: http://m.mlb.com/video/v33405909/tbmia-alvarez-retires-dejesus-to-complete-shutout/?c_id=mlb
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6) June 20th — Don’t Run on Ozuna — Really, you just don’t. Marcell’s game-saving launch to home plate to throw out Kirk Nieuwenhuis and secure the 3–2 win over the Mets was definitely a SportsCenter Top-10 worthy throw that got more fun to watch over and over again. It was one of those “are you kidding me?!” moments of the season:
5) July 14th — Home Run Derby Moonshot — Giancarlo and Henderson flew up to Target Field to show their skills during the 2014 Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game. Although Giancarlo did not win the HR Derby crown, his 510-foot upper-deck blast that almost left the stadium had every fan and player unbelievably shocked and cheering uncontrollably. Wow.
4) August 2nd — Yelich Walk-Off — The night before his bobblehead giveaway, 22-year-old left fielder Christian Yelich saved the day with an RBI single to mark the Marlins’ ninth walk-off win of the season to date and beat the Cincinnati Reds, 2–1. Yelich’s walk-off single not only brought the fans at Marlins Park to their feet, but also led to a quick sellout of all 12,000 Christian Yelich Bobbleheads the next day on Family Sunday.
3) August 11th — The Human Highlight Reel — Is this guy even human? This was a spectacular, standing-ovation-from-the-fans type of night for MVP candidate, Giancarlo, offensively and defensively. The highlight reel speaks for itself, so sit back and enjoy two home runs, a dazzling catch in right field and the only reaction you can have when your team is playing against someone like Giancarlo.
2) August 23rd — #Hech4GG, Really — Shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria keeps adding to his long list of outstanding #HechOfAPlay moments (read more here). This Gold Glove-worthy candidate has wow-ed the crowds not only at Marlins Park but also on the road. The best example of his star-studded defensive plays took place when the Fish were out in Colorado. Although the Fish did not win the game that night, this particular #HechOfAPlay in the 12th inning while Justin Morneau was at bat had every Marlins fan watching at home on their feet, including Rich & Tommy. #Hech4GG anyone?
Video: http://m.mlb.com/video/v35620237/miacol-hechavarrias-unreal-grab-saves-the-game/?c_id=mlb
1) September 8th-11th — Four in a Row — Although the last game of the Marlins vs. Milwaukee series ended in a huge #GetWellGiancarlo campaign from all fans, we cannot forget the simple fact that Marcell has mad skills when he is at bat. Marcell homered in four straight games. He has emerged as a big power hitter in only his second year in the big leagues. This has truly been a breakout year for this center fielder, and given his success with his bat and glove, he will be a force to reckon with offensively and defensively in 2015.
Video: http://m.mlb.com/video/v36068201/miamil-ozuna-crushes-a-solo-home-run-to-center/?c_id=mlb
We’re looking forward to many more exciting moments like these this season at Marlins Park!
