MIAMI (Ticker) -- Miguel Cabrera took advantage of a second opportunity to be the hero in his first major league game.

Cabrera's first major league hit turned out to be a game-winning, two-run homer in the bottom of the 11th inning as the Florida Marlins posted a 3-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays .

After Alex Gonzalez doubled into the left field corner with one out, Cabrera hit the first pitch from Al Levine (2-5) over the center field fence.

"I knew I hit it good but I didn't know whether it would go out," he said. "I just wanted to make good contact and was fortunate to get a good pitch to hit."

"This is huge for him," Gonzalez added. "I remember my first hit was a home run, so I can sense what he is feeling. This is a night he won't forget."

Cabrera became the first player to hit a game-winning home run in his first game since Cleveland's Josh Bard did it on August 23.

"It already felt good to be playing in the big leagues but to get a hit like that to help my team win was great," Cabrera said. "I'm sure my family back home is very excited, and I'm very excited."

"What a job that kid did in coming through like that," Marlins manager Jack McKeon added. "I'm ready to go out and celebrate, but then get back to work because it's only one game and one win."

Recalled from Carolina of the Class AA Southern League before the game, Cabrera had a chance to deliver the winning hit in the bottom of the ninth.

With Mike Mordecai on second, Cabrera hit the ball hard up the middle, but pitcher Travis Harper snared the comebacker and turned it into an easy out.

"I felt more comfortable as the game went on," said Cabrera, who finished 1-for-5. "I just want to do what it takes to help my team win."

Starting in the eighth, the Marlins had the go-ahead or winning run at second with one out in four straight innings. They left the bases loaded in the 10th.

Armando Almamza (4-4) tossed the top of the 11th and recorded the victory as the Marlins survived a questionable call in the inning by second base umpire Jerry Meals.

Julio Lugo appeared to be thrown out attempting to steal second as television replays seemed to show that shortstop Gonzalez tagged him on the thigh. But after briefly hesitating, Meals, who was on top of the play, called Lugo safe.

Almanza walked Marlon Anderson to put runners on first and second with two outs, but struck out rookie Rocco Baldelli swinging.

The Marlins got a workmanlike effort from starter Mark Redman , who threw 138 pitches in eight innings. He allowed just one run and five hits with no walks and eight strikeouts.

"I felt good and to be honest, didn't know I had thrown that many pitches," Redman said.

After giving up two hits in the first inning, he retired 19 straight batters until Carl Crawford tripled with out in the eighth. Crawford was stranded at third as Lugo flied out and pinch hitter Ben Grieve struck out.

"That eighth inning, I pitched my heart out with the runner on third and was determined to get out of that spot," Redman said.

Tampa Bay's Rob Bell was tougher, yielding only one hit in six innings, a leadoff triple in the fourth to Juan Pierre , who scored on Andy Fox 's grounder.

Redman blanked the Devil Rays after giving up a run in the top of the first. Damian Rolls singled with one out, went to third on Baldelli's double and scored on Aubrey Huff 's sacrifice fly.

After Huff was called out on strikes in the ninth, he was ejected by plate umpire Chris Guccione, who also tossed Devil Rays manager Lou Piniella and bench coach John McLaren.

"The umpire used bad judgement and the end result was that a manager, a bench coach and a player were thrown out," Piniella said. "Huff threw equipment. He wasn't mad at the umpire, he was mad at himself. I went out and made sure he (Guccione) was mad at me. I guess McLaren did the same."

"It was a strike," Huff admitted. "I was (upset) at myself and threw the bat."