Here are the Marlins' top 10 games of the 2010s
MIAMI -- The 2010s were eventful for the Marlins, who underwent two makeovers, opened their own home and welcomed a new ownership group. Though the club didn't reach the postseason, it still managed to make memorable moments and Major League history on the field.
Here are the Marlins' top 10 games of the decade:
1) An emotional return to the diamond
Sept. 26, 2016
How does an organization cope when faced with the loss of its franchise player and a symbol for the local Cuban community? One day after the tragic death of ace José Fernández, the mourning Marlins -- wearing his No. 16 black jersey -- hosted the Mets. Things played out like a movie script from there. In a moving display of sportsmanship, the clubs grieved together prior to the game. Dee Gordon then mimicked Fernández's batting stance before going deep for his first homer of the season. He proceeded to break down in the dugout, as his teammates consoled him. Following postgame handshakes in a 7-3 win, Giancarlo Stanton addressed the club as the Marlins circled the mound and placed their caps near the rubber in remembrance.
2) The unconventional no-hitter
Sept. 29, 2013
An otherwise disappointing 100-loss season ended in memorable fashion for the Marlins in a matchup with the postseason-bound Tigers. When Henderson Alvarez struck out Matt Tuiasosopo to celebrate nine no-hit innings, he pumped his hands in the air before realizing that the game remained scoreless heading to the bottom of the ninth. Minutes later, with the bases loaded and two outs, Giancarlo Stanton scampered home on a wild pitch for the victory. The Marlins raced to celebrate with Alvarez, who was in the on-deck circle. At the time, it marked the first no-no in a Game 162 since 1984 and the first in walk-off style since '52.
3) Collision course to history
June 3, 2017
Just three pitches into his start, Edinson Vólquez nearly exited after crashing into a runner on a play at first base. Following a couple of warmup tosses, he remained on the mound and pitched through a tight right hamstring and ankle. What came next was the Marlins' sixth no-hitter, this one in a 3-0 win over the D-backs at Marlins Park. Vólquez faced the minimum because of two double plays and struck out the side in the ninth. Signed to be a veteran workhorse for the rotation, he dedicated the no-no to the late José Fernández and Yordano Ventura, his former teammate whose birthday fell on that date.
4) Mile High milestone
Aug. 7, 2016
When the Marlins signed future Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki as depth for their talented young outfield prior to the 2015 season, they knew there was a chance that the 10-time All-Star could accomplish history in a Miami uniform. That time arrived during the seventh inning of a 10-7 win at Coors Field, where Ichiro became the 30th player in Major League history to reach 3,000 hits with a triple off the right-field wall against Rockies lefty Chris Rusin. Dee Gordon was the first to embrace Ichiro, whose teammates gathered at third base to congratulate the legend.
5) A ballpark is born
April 4, 2012
Despite two World Series titles in their first 10 seasons of existence, the Florida Marlins never had a home to call their own. That changed on Opening Night 2012, when the re-branded organization moved south from a multipurpose stadium on the Miami-Dade/Broward County border to Marlins Park (complete with a retractable roof!) in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami. While the Miami Marlins lost the opener, 4-1, to the Cardinals, it ushered in a new era of baseball in South Florida and provided reassurance that it would be here to stay.
6) Repping the red, white and blue
July 3, 2016
The Marlins and Braves earned the distinction of playing the first regular-season professional sports event held on an active military base and the first MLB game in North Carolina during Independence Day weekend. Both clubs took advantage of the festivities, with José Fernández being no exception. He played catch with a serviceman and marveled at the flyover. As for the action on the field, J.T. Realmuto collected three hits, including a homer, and Adam Conley pitched six scoreless innings. Christian Yelich, whose younger brother was a member of the U.S. Marine Corps at the time, also recorded three hits in the 5-2 win in front of a national audience.
7) Ozuna calls game
June 20, 2014
Sure, walk-off hits are nice, but can I interest you in a walk-off play at the plate? With the Marlins nursing a 3-2 ninth-inning lead and the Mets putting the tying run at third, closer Steve Cishek delivered a full-count offering to Chris Young, who sent a fly ball to left. Rather than camp under it at spacious Marlins Park, Marcell Ozuna got a running start before firing a laser to catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who applied the tag on Kirk Nieuwenhuis for the final out. The inning before, Ozuna threw out David Wright at home. As FOX Sports Florida analyst Tommy Hutton quipped: "The best arm out of the bullpen tonight was in left field."
8) Pretty in pink
May 13, 2012
Using a pink bat for Mother's Day, Giancarlo Stanton ambushed Mets righty Manny Acosta's first pitch for a walk-off grand slam with two outs in an 8-4 win. It capped a six-run ninth for the Marlins, who entered the inning trailing by two and registered their fifth walk-off victory at their new ballpark. Stanton, deciding to go by his given name, Giancarlo, rather than Mike prior to the season, notched his third career slam and second walk-off dinger on the swing. His only regret? Not making contact with the polarizing home run sculpture in center field.
9) Calling his shot
Sept. 11, 2013
It would be easy to go with José Fernández's final start before his death in September 2016 -- a sterling eight scoreless innings of three-hit ball with 12 strikeouts against the Nationals. Instead, we'll look back at the last outing of the late phenom's '13 rookie campaign, which included an All-Star selection, the National League Rookie of the Year Award and the honor of being an NL Cy Young Award finalist. Not only did the 21-year-old ace allow just one run over seven innings against the rival Braves, but he also went deep off lefty Mike Minor in his final at-bat after promising to homer before his season was done. Fernández admired the shot, which landed in the Clevelander at Marlins Park, before flipping his bat and trotting around the bases. It caused a benches-clearing confrontation, as veterans Brian McCann and Chris Johnson took offense to Fernández's behavior in Miami's eventual 5-2 win.
10) It feels like one of those nights
July 26, 2017
This game provided plenty of offensive firepower, as the Marlins established a club record in runs in a 22-10 rout at Globe Life Park. Four Marlins went deep, including Dee Gordon on the game's first pitch. Christian Yelich homered and doubled three times. Derek Dietrich and Marcell Ozuna each drove in five apiece. Rangers starter Yu Darvish, in his final audition before the Trade Deadline, surrendered 10 runs and claimed he was tipping pitches. Oh, and the usually stoic Giancarlo Stanton pimped a mammoth shot -- his MLB-leading 33rd tater of the year -- off Jason Grilli one night after the reliever celebrated a game-ending strikeout of the slugger.