These Marlins raked the most in one game

The Marlins have had their share of talented hitters -- from a National League MVP Award winner to two batting champions to several NL Silver Slugger Award winners. Those achievements recognize a season's body of work, but what about the best single-game hitting performances in club history?

Here are the top five in Marlins lore:

1. Cody Ross
Sept. 11, 2006, vs. Mets
After making his big league debut in 2003 with the Tigers, it took some time for Cody Ross to find his footing in The Show. He bounced around to the Dodgers and the Reds through the early part of the '06 season before finding a home with the Marlins by late May while still officially a rookie. Come September, Ross had put together the best single-game performance in Marlins history.

In a 16-5 win over the NL East-leading Mets at Dolphins Stadium, the right-handed-hitting Ross recorded the second three-homer game in franchise history, with seven RBIs and 13 total bases -- both club records. Playing right field, Ross went 4-for-5 with three runs scored sandwiched between Wes Helms and Miguel Olivo in a lineup that featured Hanley Ramirez, Dan Uggla and Miguel Cabrera.

Ross' first homer was a three-run shot off David Williams in the first inning. After an infield single in the third and a flyout in the fourth, he connected on two-run homers against Heath Bell and Royce Ring in the sixth and seventh, respectively.

The "Toy Cannon" played for the Marlins until he was selected off waivers by the Giants in August 2010. Ross became a postseason hero, winning the NL Championship Series MVP Award as San Francisco marched toward its first World Series title of the decade.

2. Mike Lowell
April 21, 2004, at Phillies
Fresh off a World Series championship with his hometown club, Mike Lowell tallied the first three-homer game by a Marlin. The third baseman went 4-for-6 from the cleanup spot, notching 13 total bases (club record), three runs and four RBIs in an 8-7 win in 12 innings at Citizens Bank Park.

? South Florida kids to play for the Marlins

Lowell hit a leadoff homer off Eric Milton in the second inning before grounding out in the fourth and singling in the sixth. In the seventh, Lowell belted a game-tying two-run shot off Tim Worrell. The Marlins took the lead when the next batter, Wil Cordero, went deep.

Lowell, an All-Star in 2004 for the third straight season, wasn't done. He knocked another game-tying homer -- this one against Billy Wagner in the ninth -- to help send the game into extras. Though Lowell popped out in the 11th, Luis Castillo put the Marlins ahead for good with a sacrifice fly in the 12th.

3. Gary Sheffield
April 10, 1994, at Padres
What better way to show your former club what it's missing than by having a monster game? Gary Sheffield did just that in an 8-5 victory at Jack Murphy Stadium, going 4-for-5 with two homers, three runs scored, five RBIs and 13 total bases (franchise record).

The Padres had dealt the All-Star to the Marlins the previous summer for future Hall of Fame closer Trevor Hoffman and two others.

On this getaway game in San Diego, Sheffield went deep twice against Wally Whitehurst. The right fielder fell a single shy of the cycle. To this day, no Marlin has completed the feat. Sheffield's four extra-base hits are tied for the franchise high with two others.

4. Miguel Cabrera
July 1, 2003, vs. Braves
Less than two weeks into a surefire Hall of Fame career, Miguel Cabrera went 4-for-6 with four runs, four extra-base hits (club record) and 12 total bases in a 20-1 win at Pro Player Stadium.

What makes this performance even more remarkable is the fact Cabrera did so batting eighth in front of pitcher Josh Beckett. (He split time on defense between left field and third base.)

Miggy, who became an unrattled rookie during the World Series run months later, hit a leadoff homer against Mike Hampton in the second inning before flying out as the team batted around to open up a 7-1 lead. Another flyout in the fourth preceded doubles in the sixth and seventh. Cabrera's two-run homer off Roberto Hernandez in the eighth capped his night.

5. Brian Anderson
Sept. 18, 2020, vs. Nationals
Third baseman Brian Anderson matched single-game franchise records for homers (three) and RBIs (seven) in the thick of a postseason chase and 15-game homestand.

The caveat? Anderson's final dinger -- his second three-run shot of the evening -- came against Nationals position player Brock Holt. Still, it was the first three-homer game for a Marlin since Ross' in 2006, and it came in a seven-inning doubleheader.

Anderson went 3-for-4 with 12 total bases in the 14-3 win. A week later, the Marlins clinched a postseason berth for the first time since 2003.

HONORABLE MENTION

Juan Encarnacion
Sept. 24, 2002 at Expos
Part of the Ryan Dempster trade with the Reds in July 2002, Juan Encarnacion proved to be consistent at the plate and in right field over parts of four seasons with the Marlins.

Encarnacion's 4-for-5 showing paved the way for a 9-6 win at Olympic Stadium. He fell a double shy of the cycle, with two homers, three runs, five RBIs and 12 total bases.