15-year Marliniversary: Aníbal Sánchez no-hits D-backs

Throughout the history of the franchise, six members of the Florida/Miami Marlins have tossed a no-hitter. The last time it was done at what’s now known as Hard Rock Stadium came on this day 15 years ago.

On Sept. 6, 2006, Aníbal Sánchez threw the fourth no-hitter in club history. In the rubber game of a three-game series at Dolphins Stadium, Sánchez yielded just four walks for the Florida Marlins in a 2-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Sánchez was perfect the first time through the order, but ran into trouble in the top of the fourth as he issued a pair of one-out walks. The right-hander would get out of the inning with back-to-back flyouts to left field.

An error by third baseman Miguel Cabrera in the top of the fifth would put the lead-off man on for Arizona, but the next three hitters would go quietly. Sánchez issued a two-out walk to Luis Gonzalez in the sixth, but Eric Byrnes lined out to Cabrera to end the frame.

The final baserunner of the night for the Diamondbacks came in the eight as former Marlins’ World Series hero Craig Counsell drew a six-pitch walk. Counsell would be retired on an inning-ending double play off the bat of Orlando Hudson.

With a 2-0 lead, Sánchez was sent out to try to complete his no-hitter in the ninth. He needed just 10 pitches to accomplish the feat.

After striking our Conor Jackson to start the inning, Sánchez got Gonzalez to pop out. Two pitches later, Brynes grounded out to third to end the contest as Sanchez became the first Florida pitcher to throw a no-hitter at home in more than 10 years.

Sánchez threw 103 pitches and struck out six in the no-hitter. Chad Tracy, a future member of the Marlins, was the only Arizona hitter to strike out twice.

Hits were few and far between for both teams as the Marlins managed just five. Joe Borchard had two of those, including a solo home run in the second inning to get the scoring started. Cabrera added a solo homer to lead off the bottom of the fourth.

Sánchez was no stranger to flirting with no-hitters. He took one into the ninth against the Colorado Rockies in 2011 and then against the Minnesota Twins as a member of the Detroit Tigers in 2013. The only time he was able to seal the deal, however, came on this day 15 years ago.