Marlin Grando

By JASON REID

Oct. 15, 1997 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

ATLANTA —

Their past isn’t much to speak of because they’re only getting started. Some predict their future will be cloudy.

But the present couldn’t be brighter for the Florida Marlins.

Still in their infancy but maturing quickly, the fifth-year Marlins are headed to the World Series after defeating the Atlanta Braves, 7-4, Tuesday night in Game 6 of the best-of-seven National League championship series.

Neither injury nor illness could stop the Marlins, who left home to claim a championship in their first playoff appearance. The Marlins stopped the two-time defending NL champions at Turner Field, silencing a chanting, tomahawk-waving crowd of 50,446, the largest to attend a game here.

Florida will host the winner of the American League championship series in Game 1 of the World Series on Saturday night at Pro Player Stadium. The Marlins are speeding forward in uncharted waters, but their skipper won’t let them stop now.

“Everyone likes to talk about all the money we spent in the off-season and the free agents we brought in, but that’s not what got this team to this point,” Marlin Manager Jim Leyland said. “What got us here is the belief we have in each other. We never stopped believing. We never stopped.”

They certainly could have.

The Marlins overcame the loss of standout right-hander Alex Fernandez, who learned last week he had a career-threatening tear of the rotator cuff of his right shoulder. And they overcame having to juggle their pitching staff because of illness.

“Jim Leyland never let us give up,” outfielder Gary Sheffield said. “We could have quit after what happened to Alex, but we didn’t. We had problems, but we handled them. We dealt with whatever happened.”

The Marlins reached the World Series faster than any other expansion team. The New York Mets had held the record at eight seasons, getting there in 1969 against the Baltimore Orioles.

Florida reached the World Series three seasons quicker. Owner Wayne Huizenga spent $89 million during the off-season to improve his team, which he has since said he would sell. If he does, the speculation is new owners might not want such a large payroll.

What’s he thinking now?

“I’m having too much fun to think about that,” a champagne-drenched Huizenga said during the Marlins’ clubhouse celebration. “I can’t think of anything now other than how happy I am for the fans in South Florida.”

On Tuesday, the Marlins were powered by ace right-hander Kevin Brown. Brown overcame a lingering stomach virus and 11 Brave hits to pitch a complete game in the series clincher after winning Game 1.

His teammates supported him with a four-run first and a three-run sixth against left-hander Tom Glavine. Bobby Bonilla led the way, getting two hits and driving in three runs.

After giving up three runs in the first two innings, Brown settled down. The Braves didn’t score again until the ninth, when they got three hits and one run against Brown, who was still fighting an illness that prevented him from starting either Games 4 or 5 in Miami.

But Leyland stuck with his ace, and Brown rewarded his manager, getting Chipper Jones, representing the tying run, to hit into a fielder’s choice to end the Braves’ season and start the Marlins’ celebration.

“After they gave me that big lead in the first, I told myself that I couldn’t let these guys down,” Brown said. “I was bad in the beginning, but I felt I still had something left to give the team. Thank goodness I did.”

Brown threw 140 pitches, striking out eight and walking one. Leyland, sensing that Brown was still weak, considered removing him from the game after the sixth inning. Brown convinced Leyland to keep him in.

“You really saw the fire in his eyes,” catcher Charles Johnson said of Brown. “You just knew he wasn’t going to let us lose this game. He kept going after the Braves, one by one. Man, it was something.”

Brown’s Brave counterpart didn’t do as well.

Glavine won Game 2, 7-1. But he wasn’t the same pitcher in Game 6, giving up seven runs and 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Known for his control, Glavine walked seven batters. He tied a championship series record with three intentional walks. However, Manager Bobby Cox stuck with his playoff veteran.

“Tom Glavine is a fighter,” Cox said. “He got us back in the game. He fought back after giving up four runs against a tough pitcher.”

The Marlins’ second big inning gave them a comfort zone and sent Glavine to the clubhouse. The Marlins scored three runs on four hits in the sixth, batting around for the second time to take a 7-3 lead.

“The Braves are a great team and they were at home,” Johnson said. “We knew they would keep coming, that’s why we needed to start fast.

“We did everything we needed to and now we’re going. We’re going to the World Series.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Atlanta vs. Florida

(Marlins win series, 4-2)

Game 1: Florida 5, Atlanta 3

Game 2: Atlanta 7, Florida 1

Game 3: Florida 5, Atlanta 2

Game 4: Atlanta 4, Florida 0

Game 5: Florida 2, Atlanta 1

Game 6: Florida 7, Atlanta 4