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07-22-2002, 12:24 AM
MIAMI -- When Wil Cordero's sinking line drive to left was caught by a diving Eric Owens, Marlins manager Jeff Torborg let out a huge sigh of relief.
"We've been waiting on that last out for a long time," Torborg said.
Since July 6th, to be exact.
The Marlins' 4-2 win over the Expos Friday at Pro Player Stadium snapped an eight-game losing slide, which was the longest active slump in the league and tied for fourth highest in franchise history.
"It's good to get this win and turn things around," said left-hander Michael Tejera, who helped the Marlins stop the bleeding. "It was a big monkey off our back. I think it was King Kong who was on our back."
Despite not having his best stuff, Tejera (6-2) was effective enough to hold the Expos to two runs on eight hits in six innings.
The left-hander walked a season-high five and struck out four.
Most importantly for Florida, Tejera didn't put the team in an early hole. Throughout the losing streak, where the Marlins were outscored 64-21, they repeatedly surrendered runs in the first.
In the two losses at Atlanta, the Braves scored three times each game in the first. And for the year, the opposition holds an 89-46 edge.
"It's huge to come home and get a win," Owens said. "Otherwise, this could have snowballed for the entire homestand. We've got to get back to .500 as fast as we can, and then see what happens."
In the second, Tejera even got the best of Cliff Floyd, traded from Florida to Montreal on July 11.
The left-handed hitting Floyd struck out swinging in his first at-bat in his old stadium.
After the game, Floyd went out socializing with his ex-teammates. And his presence was clearly felt in his homecoming. Marlins center fielder Preston Wilson switched lockers in the clubhouse to where Floyd once occupied. And veteran Tim Raines swapped numbers from 32 to 30, previously worn by Floyd.
Raines had worn No. 30 much of his career. In another clubhouse switch, outfielder Kevin Millar moved into the locker previously used by pitcher Ryan Dempster -- traded to the Reds on July 11.
"It feels weird because Cliff was here like a week ago," Tejera said. "And he's playing for the Expos. I approached it like he's a good hitter, which he is. But that's part of the game. I got him out and he got a hit."
Floyd, who went 1-for-5 with a stolen base, reached on an error in the third. In the fifth, he bounced a single up the middle. But with two on in the sixth, and Florida ahead 4-2, Tejera induced Floyd to tap a grounder to first base for the final out.
The sixth was the Expos last serious scoring opportunity. Jose Macias nearly homered with one out, but his drive to left rattled high off the wall for a double. With Jose Vidro at the plate, Tejera picked Macias off second after Luis Castillo applied the tag.
Tejera then walked Vidro and Vladimir Guerrero, bringing up Floyd.
The only Expos to have more than one hit was pitcher Javier Vazquez, who singled and scored in the third and had a two-out RBI single in the fourth. At the time, the base hit put the Expos ahead 2-1.
Tejera had a key sacrifice bunt in the fifth, moving Juan Encarnacion (who doubled) to third and Andy Fox (walk) to second.
Castillo gave the Marlins the lead for good with a two-run infield single that deflected off Vazquez's glove. Encarnacion scored easily, and Fox raced home when shortstop Orlando Cabrera couldn't make the bare-handed play.
Castillo moved to second on Cabrera's throw home, and then swiped third for his 32nd stolen base. Eric Owens' RBI double down the right-field line added an insurance run.
Tejera's night was over after 120 pitches and six innings.
Carl Pavano, obtained in the Floyd trade, gave up one two-out single to Cabrera in the seventh. But that was it.
Sealing Florida's first win in 12 days was Vladimir Nunez, who worked a perfect eighth and ninth for his 19th save.
Struggling for weeks, Nunez picked up his first save since June 29 at Tampa Bay.
But Nunez turned in his second straight strong outing. In Thursday's 3-1 loss at Atlanta, he retired six straight in two innings after a leadoff walk.
On Friday, Nunez made an adjustment at the urging of pitching coach Brad Arnsberg, and he threw entirely out of the stretch.
"I feel relieved," Torborg said. "This was a long time coming."
"We've been waiting on that last out for a long time," Torborg said.
Since July 6th, to be exact.
The Marlins' 4-2 win over the Expos Friday at Pro Player Stadium snapped an eight-game losing slide, which was the longest active slump in the league and tied for fourth highest in franchise history.
"It's good to get this win and turn things around," said left-hander Michael Tejera, who helped the Marlins stop the bleeding. "It was a big monkey off our back. I think it was King Kong who was on our back."
Despite not having his best stuff, Tejera (6-2) was effective enough to hold the Expos to two runs on eight hits in six innings.
The left-hander walked a season-high five and struck out four.
Most importantly for Florida, Tejera didn't put the team in an early hole. Throughout the losing streak, where the Marlins were outscored 64-21, they repeatedly surrendered runs in the first.
In the two losses at Atlanta, the Braves scored three times each game in the first. And for the year, the opposition holds an 89-46 edge.
"It's huge to come home and get a win," Owens said. "Otherwise, this could have snowballed for the entire homestand. We've got to get back to .500 as fast as we can, and then see what happens."
In the second, Tejera even got the best of Cliff Floyd, traded from Florida to Montreal on July 11.
The left-handed hitting Floyd struck out swinging in his first at-bat in his old stadium.
After the game, Floyd went out socializing with his ex-teammates. And his presence was clearly felt in his homecoming. Marlins center fielder Preston Wilson switched lockers in the clubhouse to where Floyd once occupied. And veteran Tim Raines swapped numbers from 32 to 30, previously worn by Floyd.
Raines had worn No. 30 much of his career. In another clubhouse switch, outfielder Kevin Millar moved into the locker previously used by pitcher Ryan Dempster -- traded to the Reds on July 11.
"It feels weird because Cliff was here like a week ago," Tejera said. "And he's playing for the Expos. I approached it like he's a good hitter, which he is. But that's part of the game. I got him out and he got a hit."
Floyd, who went 1-for-5 with a stolen base, reached on an error in the third. In the fifth, he bounced a single up the middle. But with two on in the sixth, and Florida ahead 4-2, Tejera induced Floyd to tap a grounder to first base for the final out.
The sixth was the Expos last serious scoring opportunity. Jose Macias nearly homered with one out, but his drive to left rattled high off the wall for a double. With Jose Vidro at the plate, Tejera picked Macias off second after Luis Castillo applied the tag.
Tejera then walked Vidro and Vladimir Guerrero, bringing up Floyd.
The only Expos to have more than one hit was pitcher Javier Vazquez, who singled and scored in the third and had a two-out RBI single in the fourth. At the time, the base hit put the Expos ahead 2-1.
Tejera had a key sacrifice bunt in the fifth, moving Juan Encarnacion (who doubled) to third and Andy Fox (walk) to second.
Castillo gave the Marlins the lead for good with a two-run infield single that deflected off Vazquez's glove. Encarnacion scored easily, and Fox raced home when shortstop Orlando Cabrera couldn't make the bare-handed play.
Castillo moved to second on Cabrera's throw home, and then swiped third for his 32nd stolen base. Eric Owens' RBI double down the right-field line added an insurance run.
Tejera's night was over after 120 pitches and six innings.
Carl Pavano, obtained in the Floyd trade, gave up one two-out single to Cabrera in the seventh. But that was it.
Sealing Florida's first win in 12 days was Vladimir Nunez, who worked a perfect eighth and ninth for his 19th save.
Struggling for weeks, Nunez picked up his first save since June 29 at Tampa Bay.
But Nunez turned in his second straight strong outing. In Thursday's 3-1 loss at Atlanta, he retired six straight in two innings after a leadoff walk.
On Friday, Nunez made an adjustment at the urging of pitching coach Brad Arnsberg, and he threw entirely out of the stretch.
"I feel relieved," Torborg said. "This was a long time coming."