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CHICAGO -- Add a meddling fan and a shortstop's error to the Chicago Cubs' long history of misery and dashed hopes.

The Cubs were five outs from their first World Series in 58 years Tuesday night when one of their own fans got in the way.

It started a series of ugly plays that resulted in Florida's eight-run inning and an 8-3 victory for the Marlins in Game 6 of the NL championship series.

"It has nothing to do with a curse," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "It has to do with fan interference and a very uncharacteristic error. ... History has nothing to do with this game, nothing."

After taking a 3-1 lead in the series, the Cubs have lost two straight going into a decisive Game 7 on Wednesday night.

"It makes you think a little bit," Marlins manager Jack McKeon said. "You guys keep talking, I think it might happen."

Especially after the wacky turn of events Tuesday. Mark Prior held the Marlins to three hits over the first seven innings, and seemed to get stronger as the night went on.

But after Juan Pierre doubled with one out in the eighth, the fates turned.

Luis Castillo hit what appeared to be a very playable foul fly down the left-field line, and Moises Alou was in position to make the catch. Alou jumped and reached into the stands, but just before the ball dropped into his glove, a male fan who appeared to be in his 20s deflected the ball away as he tried to make the catch.

"He said he had it perfectly timed," Baker said.

The ball dropped into the stands as Alou screamed. Despite vigorous protests from the Cubs and their fans for interference, it was simply ruled a foul ball, and Castillo went back to the plate.

"The ball was in the stands," McKeon said. "Whether Alou could have caught it or not is questionable, but the ball was in the stands. And when the ball is in the stands, the fans have a right to catch it."

One pitch later, he drew a walk.

Other fans tossed beer at the fan and shouted profanities and threats at him. A handful of security guards quickly escorted him from his seat, his face covered with a sweater as he walked to a security room.

Some fans were yelling, "Kill him!" and "You cost us the World Series!" as he was being led away.

"He possibly cost us the pennant, and I want to know if it was worth a $20 ball? What a loser," said Sean Henning, who was sitting about five rows back.

And it got worse for the Cubs. Ivan Rodriguez followed with an RBI single, cutting Chicago's lead to 3-1. And it would get worse for the Cubs.

Miguel Cabrera hit a two-hopper to shortstop that Alex Gonzalez dropped. Normally one of Chicago's best defensive players, Gonzalez tried to backhand the ball. But it ricocheted off his glove and back down into the dirt for an error.

He grabbed at the ball but had no play, loading the bases with only one out.

"For whatever reason, I didn't catch the ball," Gonzalez said. "It seemed like the spin on the ball ate me up. I didn't think it would get to me that fast."

Derrek Lee tied it with a two-run double, Jeff Conine hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly and little Mike Mordecai hammered a three-run double off the ivy in left-center.

Suddenly it was 7-3, and Cubs fans were left heartbroken again.

"This isn't over by a long ways," Baker said. "We've got Kerry Wood going tomorrow and we're still at home. As far as I'm concerned, we're still in very, very good shape."

As for that fan, Cubs security chief Mike Hill refused to give out any details about him. But Hill did say the team gave him a new coat and led him out a different exit after the game so no one could recognize him.

"He was scared to death more than anything," Hill said. "He just wanted to get out of here."

Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press