View source for 2003 National League Championship Series

{{Short description|Major League Baseball playoff series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2013}}
{{Infobox LCS
 | image = 2003NLCSLogo.png
 | year = 2003
 | champion = [[2003 Florida Marlins season|Florida Marlins]] (4)
 | champion_manager = [[Jack McKeon]]
 | champion_games = 91–71, .562, GB: 10
 | runnerup = [[2003 Chicago Cubs season|Chicago Cubs]] (3)
 | runnerup_manager = [[Dusty Baker]]
 | runnerup_games = 88–74, .543, GA: 1
 | date = October 7–15
 | MVP = [[Iván Rodríguez]] (Florida)
 | television = [[Major League Baseball on Fox|Fox]]
 | announcers = [[Thom Brennaman]]<!--play-by-play-->, [[Steve Lyons (baseball)|Steve Lyons]], [[Al Leiter]] and [[Josh Lewin]] <!--color commentators-->
 | radio_network = [[Major League Baseball on ESPN Radio|ESPN]]
 | radio_announcers = [[Dan Shulman]]<!--play-by-play--> and [[Dave Campbell (infielder)|Dave Campbell]]<!--color commentator-->
 | umpires = [[Jerry Crawford]] (Games 1, 3–7), [[Chuck Meriwether]], [[Fieldin Culbreth]], [[Larry Vanover]] (Game 2), [[Mike Everitt (baseball)|Mike Everitt]], [[Larry Poncino]], [[Mike Reilly (umpire)|Mike Reilly]]
 | LDS1 = [[2003 Chicago Cubs season|Chicago Cubs]] over [[2003 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]] (3–2)
 | LDS2 = [[2003 Florida Marlins season|Florida Marlins]] over [[2003 San Francisco Giants season|San Francisco Giants]] (3–1)
}}
The '''2003 [[National League Championship Series]]''' ('''NLCS''') was a playoff series in [[Major League Baseball]]’s [[2003 Major League Baseball postseason|2003 postseason]] played from October 7 to 15 to determine the champion of the [[National League (baseball)|National League]]. It featured the Central Division champion and third-seeded [[Chicago Cubs]] and the wild-card qualifying [[Florida Marlins]]. The Cubs, by virtue of being a division winner, had the home field advantage.<ref>{{cite news|title=THE BREAKDOWN; The Cubs have the home-field advantage, and their red-hot pitching staff is aligned for success|first=Phil|last=Rogers|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=October 7, 2003}}</ref> The Marlins came back from a three games to one deficit and won the series in seven games, advancing to the [[2003 World Series|World Series]] against the [[New York Yankees]], whom they defeated in six games.<ref name="Wrigley">{{cite news|title=Yet Again, There's No Joy In Wrigley|first=Rafael|last=Hermoso|newspaper=New York Times|date=October 16, 2003|page=D1|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/16/sports/baseball-yet-again-there-s-no-joy-in-wrigley.html?pagewanted=print&src=pm}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/26/sports/baseball-young-ace-has-winning-hand-and-yankees-are-sent-reeling.html?pagewanted=print&src=pm|title=Young Ace Has Winning Hand, And Yankees Are Sent Reeling|date=October 26, 2003|first=Tyler|last=Kepner|newspaper=New York Times|page=1.1}}</ref>

==Background==
The series is most remembered for events that unfolded in the top of the eighth inning of Game 6.<ref>{{cite news |last=Morrissey |first=Rick |date=October 16, 2003 |title=Game 6 collapse will define this team |newspaper=The Chicago Tribune |page=4}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Leach |first=Matthew |date=October 14, 2003 |title=Eighth inning was one that got away |url=http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20031014&content_id=579304&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007222931/http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20031014&content_id=579304&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc |archive-date=October 7, 2012 |access-date=June 9, 2011 |work=MLB.com}}</ref> Not having won a championship since 1908, the Cubs had just taken two out of the three games in Miami, with the final two games at [[Wrigley Field]] in [[Chicago]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Morrissey |first=Rick |date=October 12, 2003 |title=1 win from a new Cubs age |newspaper=The Chicago Tribune |page=17.2 |quote=The Cubs are up 3-1 in their best-of-seven series with the Marlins after winning 8-3 Saturday night. They are one victory from the World Series. They have to win one game out of three with the Marlins to get there. Two of the games are in Chicago. They could, hypothetically, wrap it up Sunday in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series at Pro Player Stadium.}}</ref> The Cubs also had their best two pitchers, [[Mark Prior]] and [[Kerry Wood]], slated to start the final two games.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sullivan |first=Paul |date=October 13, 2003 |title=Beckett keeps Marlins alive; Shutout cuts margin to 3-2 |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |page=8.3}}</ref><ref name="CubsFans2">{{cite news |last=Vecsey |first=George |author-link=George Vecsey |date=October 12, 2003 |title=Cubs Fans Have Been Close Before |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/12/sports/sports-of-the-times-cubs-fans-have-been-close-before.html?pagewanted=print&src=pm |newspaper=New York Times |page=SP5}}</ref> With the Cubs leading 3–0 and just five outs away from their first World Series appearance since {{wsy|1945}}, [[Steve Bartman incident|Steve Bartman]], a fan, reached for the foul ball hit by [[Luis Castillo (second baseman)|Luis Castillo]] off Prior, preventing Cubs outfielder [[Moisés Alou]] from catching it. Castillo proceeded to walk and Prior and the Cubs never recovered from the incident. Aided by Castillo's walk and later an error by Cubs shortstop [[Alex Gonzalez (shortstop, born 1973)|Alex Gonzalez]] on a potential double-play grounder, the Marlins went on to score eight runs in the inning and won the game 8–3. There were some odd events leading up to the disastrous 8th inning that many Cubs fans call bad omens of [[The Curse of the Billy Goat]], which most notably include [[Bernie Mac]] (a lifelong fan of the crosstown [[Chicago White Sox|White Sox]]) altering "[[Take Me Out to the Ball Game]]" from "root for the Cubbies" to "root for the champs, champs." The Marlins went on to win Game 7 and then to defeat the [[New York Yankees]] in the [[2003 World Series|World Series]].

==Summary==

===Chicago Cubs vs. Florida Marlins===
{{MLB Playoff Summary
| summary =
| winner = Florida
| score = 4–3
| score1 = '''Florida Marlins''' – 9, Chicago Cubs – 8 <small>(11)</small>
| date1 = October 7
| loc1 = [[Wrigley Field]]
| time1 = 3:44
| att1 = 39,567
| ref1 = <ref name="Game1">{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2003/B10070CHN2003.htm|title=2003 NLCS Game 1 – Florida Marlins vs. Chicago Cubs|access-date=September 13, 2009|publisher=Retrosheet}}</ref>
| score2 = Florida Marlins – 3, '''Chicago Cubs''' – 12
| date2 = October 8
| loc2 = Wrigley Field
| time2 = 3:02
| att2 = 39,562
| ref2 = <ref name="Game2">{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2003/B10080CHN2003.htm|title=2003 NLCS Game 2 – Florida Marlins vs. Chicago Cubs|access-date=September 13, 2009|publisher=Retrosheet}}</ref>
| score3 = '''Chicago Cubs''' – 5, Florida Marlins – 4 <small>(11)</small>
| date3 = October 10
| loc3 = [[Pro Player Stadium]]
| time3 = 4:16
| att3 = 65,115
| ref3 = <ref name="Game3">{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2003/B10100FLO2003.htm|title=2003 NLCS Game 3 – Chicago Cubs vs. Florida Marlins|access-date=September 13, 2009|publisher=Retrosheet}}</ref>
| score4 = '''Chicago Cubs''' – 8, Florida Marlins – 3
| date4 = October 11
| loc4 = Pro Player Stadium
| time4 = 2:58
| att4 = 65,829
| ref4 = <ref name="Game4">{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2003/B10110FLO2003.htm|title=2003 NLCS Game 4 – Chicago Cubs vs. Florida Marlins|access-date=September 13, 2009|publisher=Retrosheet}}</ref>
| score5 = Chicago Cubs – 0, '''Florida Marlins''' – 4
| date5 = October 12
| loc5 = Pro Player Stadium
| time5 = 2:42
| att5 = 65,279
| ref5 = <ref name="Game5">{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2003/B10120FLO2003.htm|title=2003 NLCS Game 5 – Chicago Cubs vs. Florida Marlins|access-date=September 13, 2009|publisher=Retrosheet}}</ref>
| score6 = '''Florida Marlins''' – 8, Chicago Cubs – 3
| date6 = [[Steve Bartman incident|October 14]]
| loc6 = Wrigley Field
| time6 = 3:00
| att6 = 39,577
| ref6 = <ref name="Game6">{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2003/B10140CHN2003.htm|title=2003 NLCS Game 6 – Florida Marlins vs. Chicago Cubs|access-date=September 13, 2009|publisher=Retrosheet}}</ref>
| score7 = '''Florida Marlins''' – 9, Chicago Cubs – 6
| date7 = October 15
| loc7 = Wrigley Field
| time7 = 3:11
| att7 = 39,574
| ref7 = <ref name="Game7">{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2003/B10150CHN2003.htm|title=2003 NLCS Game 7 – Florida Marlins vs. Chicago Cubs|access-date=September 13, 2009|publisher=Retrosheet}}</ref>
}}

==Game summaries==

===Game 1===
Tuesday, October 7, 2003 at [[Wrigley Field]] in [[Chicago]]
{{Linescore|
|Road='''Florida'''|RoadAbr=FLA
|R1=0|R2=0|R3=5|R4=0|R5=0|R6=1|R7=0|R8=0|R9=2|R10=0|R11=1|RR=9|RH=14|RE=1
|Home=Chicago|HomeAbr=CHC
|H1=4|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0|H5=0|H6=2|H7=0|H8=0|H9=2|H10=0|H11=0|HR=8|HH=11|HE=1
|RSP=|HSP=
|WP=[[Ugueth Urbina]] (1–0)|LP=[[Mark Guthrie]] (0–1)|SV=[[Braden Looper]] (1)
|RoadHR=[[Iván Rodríguez]] (1), [[Miguel Cabrera]] (1), [[Juan Encarnación]] (1), [[Mike Lowell]] (1)|HomeHR=[[Moisés Alou]] (1), [[Alex Gonzalez (shortstop, born 1973)|Alex S. Gonzalez]] (1), [[Sammy Sosa]] (1)
|}}

The Cubs struck first in Game 1 with a four-run first inning off [[Josh Beckett]]. [[Kenny Lofton]] drew a leadoff walk before scoring on [[Mark Grudzielanek]]'s triple. One out later, [[Moisés Alou]]'s home run made it 3−0. [[Aramis Ramírez]] then tripled before scoring on [[Alex Gonzalez (shortstop, born 1973)|Alex Gonzalez]]'s two-out double. The Marlins battered starter [[Carlos Zambrano]] with five runs in the third. [[Juan Pierre]] tripled with one out, then [[Luis Castillo (second baseman)|Luis Castillo]] walked before [[Iván Rodríguez]]'s home run made it 4−3 Cubs. After [[Derrek Lee]] struck out, home runs by [[Miguel Cabrera]] and [[Juan Encarnación]] put the Marlins up 5−4. They made it 6−4 in the sixth on [[Jeff Conine]]'s sacrifice fly with runners on second and third, but the Cubs tied it in the bottom of the inning on Gonzalez's home run after [[Randall Simon]] doubled with two outs. The Marlins loaded the bases in the ninth off [[Joe Borowski (baseball)|Joe Borowski]] on a double, walk and Grudzielanek's error before Rodriguez's single scored two, but the Cubs tied it in the bottom of the inning on [[Sammy Sosa]]'s two-run home run off [[Ugueth Urbina]], forcing extra innings. [[Mike Lowell]]'s leadoff home run in the 11th put the Marlins up 9−8 and [[Braden Looper]] retired the Cubs in order in the bottom half to give Florida a 1−0 series lead.<ref>{{cite news|title=Marlins outmuscle Cubs|newspaper=USA Today|date=October 8, 2003|first=Chuck|last=Johnson|page=1C}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20031007&content_id=568199&vkey=ds2003news&fext=.jsp&c_id=fla|title=Marlins set NLCS record in the third|date=October 7, 2003|access-date=June 10, 2011|first=Mark|last=Newman|work=MLB.com|publisher=Marlins.MLB.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310172746/http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20031007&content_id=568199&vkey=ds2003news&fext=.jsp&c_id=fla|archive-date=March 10, 2011|url-status = dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="MLB.com-Game1">{{cite web|url=http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20031007&content_id=568370&vkey=ds2003game&fext=.jsp&c_id=fla|title=Fish steal the show in Second City|date=October 7, 2003|access-date=June 10, 2011|first=Joe|last=Frisaro|work=MLB.com|publisher=Marlins.MLB.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310172726/http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20031007&content_id=568370&vkey=ds2003game&fext=.jsp&c_id=fla|archive-date=March 10, 2011|url-status = dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/08/sports/baseball-lowell-wins-game-in-11th-and-negates-sosa-heroics.html?pagewanted=print&src=pm|title=Lowell Wins Game in 11th And Negates Sosa Heroics|first=Rafael|last=Hermoso|newspaper=New York Times|date=October 8, 2003|page=D1}}</ref>

===Game 2===
Wednesday, October 8, 2003 at [[Wrigley Field]] in [[Chicago]]
{{Linescore|
|Road=Florida|RoadAbr=FLA
|R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0|R5=0|R6=2|R7=0|R8=1|R9=0|RR=3|RH=9|RE=1
|Home='''Chicago'''|HomeAbr=CHC
|H1=2|H2=3|H3=3|H4=0|H5=3|H6=1|H7=0|H8=0|H9=X|HR=12|HH=16|HE=1
|RSP=|HSP=
|WP=[[Mark Prior]] (1–0)|LP=[[Brad Penny]] (0–1)|SV=
|RoadHR=[[Derrek Lee]] (1), [[Miguel Cabrera]] (2)|HomeHR=[[Sammy Sosa]] (2), [[Aramis Ramírez]] (1), [[Alex Gonzalez (shortstop, born 1973)|Alex S. Gonzalez]] 2 (3)
|}}

In Game 2, the Cubs loaded the bases in the first on a hit and two walks off [[Brad Penny]] when [[Randall Simon]] brought home two with a single to left. Next inning, [[Paul Bako]] hit a leadoff single, moved to score on a groundout, and scored on [[Kenny Lofton]]'s single. One out later, [[Sammy Sosa]] homered to make it 5−0; his home run ball landed on top of a camera house in center field, some {{convert|495|ft}} from home plate. Next inning, [[Aramis Ramírez]] hit a leadoff home run and after Simon doubled, Penny was relieved by [[Nate Bump]], who got [[Alex Gonzalez (shortstop, born 1973)|Alex Gonzalez]] to hit into a force out, but then allowed an RBI double to Bako. One out later, Lofton's RBI single made it 8−0 Cubs. In the fifth, [[Rick Helling]] allowed a leadoff double to Simon, then Gonzalez homered an out later to make it 10−0. Bako then walked, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, then to third on Lofton's single before scoring on [[Mark Grudzielanek]]'s double. [[Mark Prior]] pitched five shutout innings before allowing lead off home runs to [[Derrek Lee]] and [[Miguel Cabrera]] in the sixth. Gonzalez hit his second home run of the game in the bottom of the inning. The Marlins scored one run in the eighth on a bases-loaded double play from [[Juan Encarnación]] off [[Dave Veres]] as the Cubs' 12−3 blowout win tied the series heading to Florida.

===Game 3===
Friday, October 10, 2003 at [[Pro Player Stadium]] in [[Miami Gardens, Florida]]
{{Linescore|
|Road='''Chicago'''|RoadAbr=CHC
|R1=1|R2=1|R3=0|R4=0|R5=0|R6=0|R7=0|R8=2|R9=0|R10=0|R11=1|RR=5|RH=12|RE=0
|Home=Florida|HomeAbr=FLA
|H1=0|H2=1|H3=0|H4=0|H5=0|H6=0|H7=2|H8=1|H9=0|H10=0|H11=0|HR=4|HH=10|HE=0
|RSP=|HSP=
|WP=[[Joe Borowski (baseball)|Joe Borowski]] (1–0)|LP=[[Michael Tejera]] (0–1)|SV=[[Mike Remlinger]] (1)
|RoadHR=[[Randall Simon]] (1)|HomeHR=
|}}

Another back-and-forth affair, similar to Game 1, pitted Florida's [[Mark Redman]] against Chicago's ace [[Kerry Wood]] at Pro Player Stadium.

The Cubs jumped on top in the first inning, as they had done in the previous two games. [[Sammy Sosa]] drove in [[Kenny Lofton]] with a single.  The Cubs plated another run in the second, when a single and a pair of walks were followed by a sacrifice fly by Wood.  The Marlins got a run back in their half of the second when [[Álex González (shortstop, born 1977)|Alex Gonzalez]] doubled in [[Miguel Cabrera]] with two outs.

Other than the Marlins leaving the bases loaded in the fifth, Wood rolled through the middle innings.  Redman, too, held strong until he was pinch-hit for in the seventh.

In the bottom of the 7th, the Marlins finally broke through.  Gonzalez led off with a single, followed by a [[Mike Lowell]] walk.  They were both sacrificed to second and third, and then Gonzalez scored the tying run on an RBI groundout by [[Luis Castillo (second baseman)|Luis Castillo]].  With two outs and Lowell at third, [[Iván Rodríguez]] singled through the right side to give Florida the lead and knocked Wood from the game, but the next inning, [[Randall Simon]] followed up a [[Tom Goodwin]] triple with a home run into the right-field stands off reliever [[Chad Fox]]. The Cubs had retaken the lead 4–3.

The Marlins tied the game at 4–4 in the bottom of the eighth against [[Kyle Farnsworth]] when [[Todd Hollandsworth]] grounded a hit through the left side of the infield to score Cabrera.  Florida, however, stranded the bases loaded in the ninth and the game went into extra innings.

In the top of the 11th, Lofton singled with one out.  Then the sparingly used [[Doug Glanville]] turned out to be the hero when he smoked a triple into the left-center field gap to drive in Lofton with the go-ahead run.  [[Mike Remlinger]] retired the Marlins in the bottom half of the 11th to secure the 5–4 victory.

Down 2 games to 1, the defeat was a blow to the Marlins, who squandered several chances with runners in scoring position.

===Game 4===
Saturday, October 11, 2003 at [[Pro Player Stadium]] in [[Miami Gardens, Florida]]
{{Linescore|
|Road='''Chicago'''|RoadAbr=CHC
|R1=4|R2=0|R3=2|R4=1|R5=0|R6=0|R7=1|R8=0|R9=0|RR=8|RH=8|RE=0
|Home=Florida|HomeAbr=FLA
|H1=0|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0|H5=2|H6=0|H7=0|H8=1|H9=0|HR=3|HH=6|HE=1
|RSP=|HSP=
|WP=[[Matt Clement]] (1–0)|LP=[[Dontrelle Willis]] (0–1)|SV=
|RoadHR=[[Aramis Ramírez]] 2 (3)|HomeHR=
|}}

[[Aramis Ramírez]] hit a first inning grand-slam, the first in Cubs postseason history, after [[Dontrelle Willis]] allowed three walks. They added to their lead in the third when Ramírez hit a single to right with two on. After a walk loaded the bases, Willis was relieved by [[Rick Helling]], who allowed an RBI single to [[Alex Gonzalez (shortstop, born 1973)|Alex Gonzalez]]. Next inning, [[Kenny Lofton]] drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on [[Moisés Alou]]'s two-out single. [[Matt Clement]] pitched four shutout innings before allowing singles to [[Miguel Cabrera]] and [[Jeff Conine]] in the fifth. Alex Gonzalez's ground out and [[Todd Hollandsworth]]'s single scored a run each. Ramírez hit his second home run of the game off [[Nate Bump]] in the seventh. The Marlins scored their last run in the eighth when [[Lenny Harris]] drew a leadoff walk and scored on [[Iván Rodríguez]]'s double off [[Kyle Farnsworth]]. The Cubs cruised to an 8–3 victory, putting them just one victory away from their first World Series in nearly 60 years.<ref name="CubsFans">{{cite news|title=Cubs Fans Have Been Close Before|first=George|last=Vecsey|newspaper=New York Times|date=October 12, 2003|page=SP5|author-link=George Vecsey|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/12/sports/sports-of-the-times-cubs-fans-have-been-close-before.html?pagewanted=print&src=pm}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ramirez Slam Helps Put Cubs On Verge of the World Series|first=Rafael|last=Hermoso|newspaper=New York Times|date=October 12, 2003|page=SP5}}</ref> This 2003 victory turned out to be the last playoff game won by the Cubs for 12 years, a span of 9 consecutive losses until finally winning the [[2015 National League Wild Card Game|National League Wild Card Game]] in 2015, as well as their last win in the [[NLCS]] until [[2016 National League Championship Series|2016]].

===Game 5===
Sunday, October 12, 2003 at [[Pro Player Stadium]] in [[Miami Gardens, Florida]]
{{Linescore|
|Road=Chicago|RoadAbr=CHC
|R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0|R5=0|R6=0|R7=0|R8=0|R9=0|RR=0|RH=2|RE=0
|Home='''Florida'''|HomeAbr=FLA
|H1=0|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0|H5=2|H6=0|H7=1|H8=1|H9=X|HR=4|HH=8|HE=0
|RSP=|HSP=
|WP=[[Josh Beckett]] (1–0)|LP=[[Carlos Zambrano]] (0–1)|SV=
|RoadHR=|HomeHR=[[Mike Lowell]] (2), [[Iván Rodríguez]] (2), [[Jeff Conine]] (1)
|}}
With the Marlins facing elimination, [[Josh Beckett]] kept them alive by dominating the Cubs, holding them to just two hits and one walk as part of his standout 2003 postseason.<ref>{{cite web|title=Beckett strikes out 11 in complete-game shutout|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=231012128|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905233745/http://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=231012128|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 5, 2017|date=October 12, 2003|access-date=May 30, 2011|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com}}</ref> The game was scoreless until the fifth inning when [[Mike Lowell]] hit a two-run homer off [[Carlos Zambrano]]. [[Iván Rodríguez]] and [[Jeff Conine]] homered in the seventh and eighth innings off [[Dave Veres]] and [[Mike Remlinger]], respectively. Even with the loss, the Cubs looked strong going back home with their two aces, [[Mark Prior]] for Game 6 and [[Kerry Wood]], if necessary, to start Game 7.<ref name="CubsFans"/>

===Game 6===

Tuesday, October 14, 2003 at [[Wrigley Field]] in [[Chicago]]
{{Linescore|
|Road='''Florida'''|RoadAbr=FLA
|R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0|R5=0|R6=0|R7=0|R8=8|R9=0|RR=8|RH=9|RE=0
|Home=Chicago|HomeAbr=CHC
|H1=1|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0|H5=0|H6=1|H7=1|H8=0|H9=0|HR=3|HH=10|HE=2
|RSP=|HSP=
|WP=[[Chad Fox]] (1–0)|LP=[[Mark Prior]] (1–1)|SV=
|RoadHR=|HomeHR=
|}}
{{further|Steve Bartman incident}}

In Game 6, the Cubs struck first when [[Kenny Lofton]] singled to lead off the first off [[Carl Pavano]] and scored on [[Sammy Sosa]]'s one-out double. In the sixth, after two singles and a double play put Sosa at third off Pavano, reliever [[Dontrelle Willis]]'s ball four wild pitch to [[Eric Karros]] allowed Sosa to score. Next inning, [[Paul Bako]] hit a leadoff single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After a strikeout, Willis was relieved by [[Chad Fox]], who allowed an RBI single to [[Mark Grudzielanek]].

With thousands of fans on the street outside sold-out Wrigley Field, poised to celebrate, the Cubs held a 3–0 lead going into the top of the eighth inning of Game 6. After [[Mike Mordecai]] hit a high [[Types of batted balls in baseball|pop fly]] to [[baseball field|left field]], the team was a mere five outs away from their first World Series appearance since 1945.<ref name="Game6-Summary">{{cite web|url=http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20031014&content_id=579221&vkey=ds2003game&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310173246/http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20031014&content_id=579221&vkey=ds2003game&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 10, 2011|date=October 14, 2003|access-date=June 9, 2011|title=Crazy eighth forces Game 7|first=Carrie|last=Muskat|work=MLB.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Giveaway is handmade; Fan, Gonzalez hurt Cubs with title in grasp|last=Sullivan|first=Paul|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=October 15, 2003|page=10.3}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=8th-inning disaster so Cubs|last=Morrissey|first=Rick|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=October 15, 2003|page=10.4}}</ref>

[[Mark 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 (baseball)|double]] off Prior.

On the eighth pitch of his [[at bat]], [[Luis Castillo (second baseman)|Luis Castillo]] hit a high foul ball toward the left field wall. Cubs left fielder [[Moisés Alou]] (a former Marlin who had won a world championship with the club in [[1997 World Series|1997]]) headed toward the stands to catch the ball for the potential second out. As Alou reached for the ball hit by his former teammate, Cubs fan [[Steve Bartman incident|Steve Bartman]], along with others near the area, did the same. The ball bounced off Bartman's hands and into the stands. Though the Cubs pleaded for a call of [[interference (baseball)|fan interference]], left field [[umpire (baseball)|umpire]] [[Mike Everitt (baseball)|Mike Everitt]] ruled that the ball had left the field of play and was therefore up for grabs. Alou, who was visibly angry at Bartman's catch, initially acknowledged that he would not have made the catch, but he later denied making such a statement and said if he had, it was only to make Bartman feel better.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/print?id=3423732&type=story|title=Report: Alou says he would have caught Bartman ball|work=ESPN.com|publisher=ESPN|date=June 3, 2008}}</ref>

As a result, Castillo remained an active batter at home plate. On the next pitch, Prior [[base on balls|walked]] Castillo with a [[wild pitch]] that got away from [[catcher]] [[Paul Bako]], also allowing Pierre to advance to third base.

At this point, the Marlins' bats began to come alive. Next, [[Iván Rodríguez]] hit an 0–2 pitch hard into left field, [[single (baseball)|singling]] and scoring Pierre. [[Miguel Cabrera]] then hit a [[Types of batted balls in baseball|ground ball]] toward Cubs [[shortstop]] [[Alex Gonzalez (shortstop, born 1973)|Alex Gonzalez]] that could have ended the inning on a [[double play]]. Gonzalez, who led all NL shortstops in [[fielding percentage]], closed his glove too early and the ball landed in the dirt, allowing Cabrera to reach safely, loading the bases. On the next pitch, [[Derrek Lee]] (a future Cubs All-Star) drilled a [[double (baseball)|double]] into left field, scoring Castillo and Rodríguez to tie the score at 3–3.

Prior was taken out of the game and replaced by [[Kyle Farnsworth]], who [[intentional base on balls|intentionally walked]] [[Mike Lowell]] to load the bases again. [[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]] (another future Cub) to yet again load the bases.

The Marlins now having batted around the order, Mordecai, making up for his earlier out, hit a bases-clearing double to left-center field, scoring Lee, Lowell, and Hollandsworth and making it a 7–3 Marlins lead.

Farnsworth was taken out of the game and replaced by [[Mike Remlinger]], who gave up a single to Pierre to score Mordecai from second base. Castillo popped to shallow right field for the final out of an 8-run inning. The comeback victory by the Marlins forced a Game 7.

===Game 7===
Wednesday, October 15, 2003 at [[Wrigley Field]] in [[Chicago]]
{{Linescore|
|Road='''Florida'''|RoadAbr=FLA
|R1=3|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0|R5=3|R6=1|R7=2|R8=0|R9=0|RR=9|RH=12|RE=0
|Home=Chicago|HomeAbr=CHC
|H1=0|H2=3|H3=2|H4=0|H5=0|H6=0|H7=1|H8=0|H9=0|HR=6|HH=6|HE=0
|RSP=|HSP=
|WP=[[Brad Penny]] (1–1)|LP=[[Kerry Wood]] (0–1)|SV=[[Ugueth Urbina]] (1)
|RoadHR=[[Miguel Cabrera]] (3)|HomeHR=[[Kerry Wood]] (1), [[Moisés Alou]] (2), [[Troy O'Leary]] (1)
|}}

In Game 7, [[Juan Pierre]] tripled to lead off the first, then [[Iván Rodríguez]] walked with one out before [[Miguel Cabrera]]'s home run made it 3–0 Marlins against Cubs [[Ace (baseball)|ace]] [[Kerry Wood]], who had not lost at [[Wrigley Field]] in nearly six weeks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20031016&content_id=581705&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310173155/http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20031016&content_id=581705&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 10, 2011|date=October 16, 2003|title=Wood takes Game 7 loss hard|first=Carrie|last=Muskat|work=MLB.com|access-date=June 9, 2011}}</ref> The Cubs responded by tying the score 3–3 in the second inning off [[Mark Redman]], which featured a two-run home run by Wood after [[Damian Miller]] hit into an RBI groundout with runners on second and third. [[Moisés Alou]]'s two-run homer after a hit-by-pitch the following inning put Chicago up 5–3, but the lead would not last.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cubs Foiled in Game 7 Marlins Headed to World Series After Stunning Comeback|last=Burris|first=Joe|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=October 16, 2003|page=C1}}</ref> In the fifth, Florida capitalized on a pair of walks and scored three runs on Rodriguez's double, Cabrera's groundout and [[Derrek Lee]]'s single to go on top 6–5, a lead they would not relinquish.  They added a run in the sixth on [[Luis Castillo (second baseman)|Luis Castillo]]'s single with two on off [[Kyle Farnsworth]] and two more in the seventh on [[Alex Gonzalez (infielder, born 1977)|Alex Gonzalez]]'s double with two on off [[Dave Veres]] to expand their lead to 9–5.  Cubs pinch-hitter [[Troy O'Leary]] hit a home run in the seventh off [[Josh Beckett]], making the score 9–6.  After the Cubs were retired in order in the eighth, Florida closer [[Ugueth Urbina]] hit [[Aramis Ramírez]] with a pitch to lead off the ninth inning, but proceeded to retire the following three batters, giving the Marlins their second National League pennant in their 11-year existence, while leaving the Cubs once again empty-handed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20031015&content_id=581068&vkey=ds2003game&fext=.jsp&c_id=fla|title=Fish rock Cubs: Bring on the World|first=Joe|last=Frisaro|work=MLB.com|date=October 15, 2003|access-date=June 10, 2011|publisher=Marlins.MLB.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110309102214/http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20031015&content_id=581068&vkey=ds2003game&fext=.jsp&c_id=fla|archive-date=March 9, 2011|url-status = dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

==Composite box==
2003 NLCS '''(4–3): [[Florida Marlins]]''' over [[Chicago Cubs]]
{{Linescore
|Road='''[[Florida Marlins]]'''
|R1=3|R2=1|R3=5|R4=0|R5=7|R6=4|R7=5|R8=12|R9=2|R10=0|R11=1|RR=40|RH=68|RE=3
|Home='''[[Chicago Cubs]]'''
|H1=12|H2=7|H3=7|H4=1|H5=3|H6=4|H7=3|H8=2|H9=2|H10=0|H11=1|HR=42|HH=65|HE=4
|TotalAttendance=354,503 |AveAttendance=50,643
}}

==Series overview and aftermath==
Chicago manager [[Dusty Baker]], who won the NL pennant in [[2002 National League Championship Series|2002]] with the San Francisco Giants, fell short in his bid to become the first manager ever to take two different teams to the World Series in consecutive years. He did not return to the LCS until [[2020 American League Championship Series|2020]] or the World Series until [[2021 World Series|2021]] with the Astros, by then his 5th team managed. With the Astros, he finally won a championship as a manager in [[2022 World Series|2022]].

Because of the two dramatic League Championship Series, that both went to a [[Game seven|seventh game]], and a major upset in the World Series, the 2003 postseason was considered one of the most enthralling in MLB history.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Scott |title=#PeakCurse: Reliving the Red Sox's and Cubs' Epic 2003 Postseason Heartbreak |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2798131-peakcurse-reliving-the-red-soxs-and-cubs-epic-2003-postseason-heartbreak |website=Bleacher Report |access-date=7 November 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

The Cubs were upset again by the Marlins during the [[2020 National League Wild Card Series|2020 Wild Card Series]], losing the series in a two-game sweep.

===Steve Bartman, the 2004 Cubs, and beyond===

The Cubs implosion in Game 6 only added to the [[Curse of the Billy Goat]] lore. [[Steve Bartman incident|Steve Bartman]] was immediately labeled the reason for their implosion, as the team had a complete meltdown after Bartman reached out to catch a flyball in foul territory, disrupting [[Moisés Alou|Moises Alou's]] potential catch. In the moments following the play, Cubs' fans shouted insults and threw debris at Bartman. For his safety, security was forced to escort him from the ballpark.

Bartman's name, as well as personal information about him, appeared on Major League Baseball's online message boards minutes after the game ended. As many as six police cars gathered outside his home to protect Bartman and his family following the incident. Afterwards, then-Illinois Governor [[Rod Blagojevich]] suggested that Bartman join a witness protection program, while then-Florida Governor [[Jeb Bush]] offered Bartman asylum.<ref>{{cite web |title=Baseball fan feels Chicago's fury |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3200582.stm |access-date=26 January 2021 |date=17 October 2003}}</ref> In the years after the incident, Bartman would live in virtual anonymity. He declined interviews, sponsorships, and request for public appearances.<ref>{{cite web |title=The San Diego Union-Tribune - San Diego, California & National News |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/20080725-9999-1s25gallery.html |website=San Diego Union-Tribune |access-date=26 January 2021}}</ref> In 2011, [[ESPN Films]] released “Catching Hell”, a documentary about Bartman’s memorable gaffe in the 2003 NLCS. However, like he did for other media opportunities, Bartman had no involvement with the project.

After the Cubs ended their 108-year drought and [[2016 World Series|won the World Series in 2016]], Steve Bartman's name once again came into focus as he received a championship ring from Cubs owner Tom Ricketts and the Ricketts family as a special gift on July 31, 2017. In his statement to the press, Bartman was relieved and hopeful that the saga of the 2003 foul ball incident surrounding himself and his family would finally be over.<ref>{{cite web | last=Muskat | first=Carrie | title=Steve Bartman receives WS ring from Cubs | website=MLB.com | date=2017-07-31 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/steve-bartman-receives-ws-ring-from-cubs-c245543604 | access-date=2025-04-11}}</ref>

Even in a competitive division such that of the [[National League Central]], the Cubs figured to be back in the hunt for another shot at the pennant in 2004. The team brought back future Hall of Fame pitcher [[Greg Maddux]] (he previously pitched for Chicago from 1986–1992). Many thought his addition, to go along with young starting pitchers [[Mark Prior]], [[Kerry Wood]], and [[Carlos Zambrano]], would help resemble the Maddux-led Braves' rotations in the 1990s. However, Prior and Wood both took steps backwards, as they would continue to be hampered by injury. In the division, the [[2004 St. Louis Cardinals season|St. Louis Cardinals]] raced off to the division lead and eventual NL Central title, finishing with an MLB's best 105 wins. The Cubs faltered down the stretch and were eventually overtaken in the division and the wild card standings by a surging [[2004 Houston Astros season|Houston Astros team]] in late September. Despite having a better record than the 2003 team, the [[2004 Chicago Cubs season|2004 Cubs]] were considered one of the most disappointing teams in franchise history due to not being able to qualify for a postseason spot.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cubs 2004 - A Season on the Shrink |url=http://writing.jmpressley.net/sports/cubs2004.html |website=writing.jmpressley.net}}</ref>

2003 Marlins' [[Juan Pierre]] and [[Derrek Lee]] would eventually become Cubs after being traded in two separate trades before the start of the [[2005 Major League Baseball season|2005 season]]. Pierre was just in Chicago for a year, but Derrek Lee became a mainstay and a fan favorite there. Lee put up MVP-type numbers in 2005, finishing third that year in the award,<ref>{{cite web |title=2005 Awards Voting |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_2005.shtml |website=Baseball-Reference.com|language=en}}</ref> while leading the National League batting average and slugging. He also won the [[Gold Glove Award|gold glove]] and [[Silver Slugger Award|silver slugger]] awards at first base, being the only Cubs first baseman to accomplish this feat until [[Anthony Rizzo]] did it in [[2016 Chicago Cubs season|2016]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Cubs teammates win Silver Slugger Awards |url=https://www.cubshq.com/cubs-baseball/story/cubs-teammates-win-silver-slugger-awards-13904 |website=CubsHQ.com |language=en-us |date=10 November 2016}}</ref>

[[Kerry Wood]] and [[Mark Prior]] never truly regained their form from 2003. After years of battling arm injuries, Prior would pitch his last game in MLB in 2006. Wood suffered similar arm issues and would have to move to the bullpen in 2008, where he would find some success as the Cubs closer and later Yankees set-up reliever to [[Mariano Rivera]]. Wood retired in 2012 at the age of 35. Prior would eventually find his calling as a pitching coach for the [[Los Angeles Dodgers|Dodgers]] since 2018, serving as a bullpen coach his first season and full staff pitching coach since 2019. As a coach, Prior won a World Series in [[2020 Los Angeles Dodgers season|2020]] and [[2024 World Series|2024]].

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2003_NLCS.shtml 2003 NLCS at Baseball-Reference]

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[[Category:National League Championship Series]]
[[Category:2003 Major League Baseball season|National League Championship Series]]
[[Category:Chicago Cubs postseason]]
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[[Category:Events at Wrigley Field]]