2003 NLCS Game 6 vs Marlins

Lore & Background

Prior had retired the last eight hitters and had allowed only three hits up to that point. Center fielder Juan Pierre then hit a double off Prior. On the eighth pitch of his at bat, Luis Castillo hit a high foul ball toward the left field wall. Cubs left fielder Moisés Alou headed toward the stands to catch the ball for the potential second out. As Alou reached for the ball, Cubs fan Steve Bartman, along with others near the area, did the same. The ball bounced off Bartman's hand and into the stands. Though the Cubs pleaded for a call of fan interference, the umpire ruled that the ball had left the field of play and was therefore up for grabs. Alou initially said that he would not have made the catch, though he later denied making the statement, saying that if he had, it was only to make Bartman feel better. As a result, Castillo remained an active batter at home plate. On the next pitch, Prior walked Castillo on a wild pitch that got away from catcher Paul Bako, also allowing Pierre to advance to third base. Next, Iván Rodríguez hit an 0-2 pitch hard into left field, singling and scoring Pierre. Miguel Cabrera then hit a ground ball toward Cubs shortstop Alex Gonzalez that could have ended the inning on a double play. Gonzalez, who led all NL shortstops in fielding percentage, closed his glove a little too early and the ball landed in the dirt, allowing Cabrera to get on base, loading the bases. On the next pitch, Derrek Lee drilled a double into left field, scoring Castillo and Rodríguez to tie the game at 3-3. Prior was then taken out of the game and replaced by Kyle Farnsworth, who intentionally walked Mike Lowell to load the bases. Jeff Conine then hit a sacrifice fly to right field for the second out of the inning, allowing Cabrera to score from third and the other runners to each advance one base. This gave the Marlins their first lead of the night. Farnsworth intentionally walked Todd Hollandsworth to once again load the bases. The Marlins now having batted around the order, Farnsworth faced Mike Mordecai, who was looking to make up for his earlier out. This time, Mordecai prevailed, hitting a bases-clearing double to left-center field, allowing Lee, Lowell and Hollandsworth to score and making it a 7-3 Marlins lead. Farnsworth was then taken out of the game and replaced by Mike Remlinger, who gave up a single to Pierre to score Mordecai from second

In Their Own Story

The roar of the crowd fractured into a collective gasp as the foul ball spiraled toward the left-field wall. A hand in a blue jersey shot out from the front row, snatching the air inches from Luis Castillo's glove. The silence that followed was absolute, heavier than the humid Chicago night and louder than any cheer before it. Castillo froze, his eyes wide with disbelief as the ball ricocheted into the darkness of the stands. As the umpire signaled interference, the weight of 95 years of history seemed to physically crush the dugout in real-time.

Reader's Guide

The Marlins' lead held, forcing a final game.

Did You Know?

• Juan Pierre doubled and later scored on Iván Rodríguez's single.
• After the wild pitch, Pierre advanced to third base.
• Derrek Lee's double tied the game at 3-3.
• Mike Mordecai hit a bases-clearing double to make it 7-3 Marlins.