Marlins in a Balmy Mood About Game 6

Only one rung remains in the Florida Marlins’ dizzying postseason ascent. The National League champions are on the verge of their first World Series title, stirring excitement throughout South Florida.

They lead the Cleveland Indians in the World Series, three games to two, and can clinch the championship tonight in Game 6 at Pro Player Stadium. If necessary, Game 7 will be here Sunday night.

The Marlins have escaped the cold and snow of Cleveland, winning two of three games to leave town with the advantage they wanted. They’ve returned to the warm embrace of their fans, who are eager to support their favorite fish in this final playoff push.

“We knew it would be tough in Cleveland, so just getting back home was obviously important for us,” first baseman Jeff Conine said. “But if you would have told us we would be going home with the lead, we would have been pretty happy about that.

“Now our fans are going to be the ones out there screaming. This is about as good as it can get for us.”

For many reasons.

The fifth-year Marlins will send ace right-hander Kevin Brown to the mound tonight in an attempt to win the World Series faster than any other expansion team. The 1969 New York Mets won the Series in their ninth season.

Brown will be opposed by right-hander Chad Ogea, who defeated the Marlins in Game 2. In that game, Brown gave up six runs and 10 hits in six innings.

But Brown pitched a complete game in clinching the NL championship series against the Atlanta Braves. In this situation, Brown is the guy the Marlins want to follow.

“What could be better than having your ace out there with a chance to close out the World Series?” said Darren Daulton, a Marlin reserve first baseman.

The Marlins are the winningest home team in the major leagues the last two seasons. They had the best record at home during the regular season at 52-29, and they are 5-2 at home in the playoffs.

“This is the situation we had hoped for,” Marlin General Manager David Dombrowski said. “We’re not where we need to be yet, but having the lead at home sure doesn’t hurt.”

Ogea says he gladly accepts tonight’s challenge.

“It doesn’t matter where you play, you still have to make the pitches at home or on the road,” Ogea said. “I feel like I’m ready.”

After experiencing the Indians’ rousing fan support for three games, the Marlins are expecting a similar charge from their supporters.

The Marlins have history on their side as well.

Of 56 teams that have had 3-2 World Series leads, 38 have won. The previous four Series ended in six games.

None of this, though, will cause Marlin Manager Jim Leyland to relax.

“The Indians are too good of a team for us to fool ourselves into thinking this is over,” he said.

Cleveland got in trouble by squandering a 7-3 lead in Game 3. The Indians also trailed the New York Yankees in the division series and Baltimore Orioles in the championship series. But the Indians haven’t had the same spark against the Marlins.

“It’s been very frustrating,” said Cleveland Manager Mike Hargrove, who is trying to lead the Indians to their first title since 1948. “But we’ve been in this position before. This team has faced a lot of adversity throughout the year and in the postseason, and we come out playing hard when we have. I expect nothing less from our ballclub now.”

Cleveland catcher Sandy Alomar has done his part.

Alomar is batting .455 (10 for 22) with two home runs and 10 runs batted in during the Series. Alomar has five home runs and 19 RBIs in the playoffs, breaking Fred McGriff’s 1996 record of 16 RBIs in a single postseason.

“The records don’t mean anything if you don’t win, and right now we have no room for error,” Alomar said. “If we lose one game, we’ll come home and they’ll be the champions. It’s really that simple right now.”

The Marlins certainly hope so.