Erratic to extraordinary
(MAY 11, 1996)
We’re all missing sports these days. So with the games on hold, we’re offering a daily dose of memorable moments as chronicled through sports history:
This story published after Al Leiter, the wildest pitcher in the American League the previous season, threw the first no-hitter in Florida’s brief history as the Marlins defeated the Rockies 11-0.
MIAMI GARDENS— Al Leiter found himself part of another jubilant mob scene Saturday night, and this time he was in the middle.
The left-hander pitched the first nohitter in Florida’s brief history and baseball’s first this season, shutting down the Colorado Rockies 11-0.
“I’m numb. It’s like when Joe Carter hit the home run to win the World Series in 1993,” said Leiter, who pitched for the world champion Toronto Blue Jays that year. “At the time, a lot of us felt likeW, ` hat did we just do?’
“On a personal level, this is up there. It’s going to take a while to digest it.”
Leiter (6-2), who led the American League in walks and wild pitches last season while with Toronto, made his eighth National League start and first against the Rockies a memorable one.
“We didn’t come close to a hit, did we?” Colorado’s Dante Bichette said. “He threw hard, harder and hardest.”
As Leiter took the mound for the ninth, the crowd of 31,549 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami Gardens stood to cheer their local hero. The 30-year-old Leiter signed with the Marlins to be close to his home in Plantation.
Leiter, primarily a power pitcher, mixed his fastball with sliders and an occasional curve to keep the Rockies off balance.
He struck out six, walked two and, true to his wild history, hit a batter. Leiter threw 103 pitches, 60 for strikes.
“I can’t describe the way I feel right now. Later, I’ll understand what I’ve accomplished,” Leiter said after taking a curtain call.
“It’s jubilation and relief and exhaustion.”