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Cabrera ties, wins game in unusual fashion

Aug 5, 2007 - 5:33 AM MIAMI (Ticker) -- Miguel Cabrera has won a few games in walk-off fashion before, but probably never like this.

Cabrera hit a homer to tie the game in the seventh inning and scored from second on a wild pitch in the bottom of the 12th to propel the Florida Marlins to a 6-5 victory over the Houston Astros on Saturday.

With Florida trailing, 5-4, the 24-year-old Venezuelan slugger blasted a solo home run off Houston starter Jason Jennings with one out to knot the game. After being walked intentionally with two outs in the 12th, Cabrera took second base on a wild pitch by Stephen Randolph (0-1) with cleanup hitter Mike Jacobs at the plate.

During the same at-bat, Randolph uncorked his second wild pitch four tosses later that ricocheted off catcher Eric Munson toward the Marlins' dugout.

Cabrera, who already had taken third before the ball found its way into the dugout, was awarded two bases - both third base and home - as a result of the ball hitting a player and then going out of play, giving Florida the win.

"It was just kind of a weird play," Munson said. "To tell you the truth, I don't know what the ruling is. I guess if it goes in the dugout or out of play, it's two bases but I think you have to touch it again.

"I tried to block the ball but it kicked off and went over towards their dugout. I went after it and got down on one knee and went to reach for it but it was gone. I didn't see it."

His batterymate, who is making his first appearance in the majors this season since 2004 after toiling in the minors each of the last two seasons, was surprised.

"Never, in my life, in all the years that I've played (have I seen that)," Randolph said. "I didn't even know there was a rule - two bases. I've never seen anything like that. I thought Munson had it on the top step, but it looked like it kind of rolled down in there."

Even Houston's Phil Garner, who has managed over 2,000 games in his 15-year managerial career, was taken aback.

"I can't remember (a game ending that way), not under the circumstances where we intentionally walked a guy and then we (throw two wild pitches to score the winning run)," Garner said. "I don't remember that."

Hanley Ramirez had two hits - including a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first - and three RBI for the Marlins, who won for just the third time in 12 contests.

Lee Gardner (3-2) pitched a perfect 12th for the victory, completing six scoreless frames by Florida's bullpen.

"We won, that's it," Cabrera said. "We needed that win. If we play like this, we can turn it around."

Carlos Lee had two hits and scored twice for the Astros, who have dropped 15 of their last 21 games.