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07-31-2002, 11:27 PM
MIAMI -- The Marlins snapped out of a 21-inning scoreless drought at home by pushing four runs across in the first inning as they prevailed 8-5 over the Cardinals on Wednesday at Pro Player Stadium.
Given an early cushion, Josh Beckett (4-4) was able to post his second win in three starts, despite not having his best stuff.
The 22-year-old rookie settled down after a rough second and turned in a respectable six-inning performance. The right-hander was touched for five runs on seven hits, walked three and struck out eight.
In relief, Armando Almanza pitched a perfect seventh and Vladimir Nunez worked out of trouble in the eighth, aided by a 4-6-3 double play by Renteria, who had an eight-game hitting streak stopped.
Braden Looper picked up his third save in six opportunities, and he lowered his home ERA to 0.86.
Travis Smith (4-2) suffered the loss, giving up six runs in 1 1/3 innings.
Notorious slow starters, the Marlins have been outscored 95-56 in the first. But Wednesday they reversed the trend by scoring four times off Smith.
Mike Redmond delivered the key blow, a three-run double.
Juan Encarnacion, who was hit by a pitch, got the rally started. The right fielder stole second and scored on Preston Wilson's double. Walks to Mike Lowell and Eric Owens loaded the bases with two outs.
Before Redmond's three-run double, the Marlins were 17-for-100 with the bases loaded. Twice Florida failed to score with the bags full in Tuesday's 5-0 loss.
But the Cardinals countered with three runs while batting around in the second. Jim Edmonds led off with a double and scored on Scott Rolen's single, his third RBI in two games since joining St. Louis on Monday. Tino Martinez singled and a walk to Edgar Renteria filled the bases for Eli Marrero, who lifted an RBI sacrifice fly to center. Smith then punched across a third run when his squeeze bunt dropped in for a single when Lee couldn't make the catch while charging from first.
Smith's struggles continued in the second as the Marlins tacked on three more runs, en route to building a 7-3 lead.
Andy Fox opened with a single and moved to second on Beckett's sacrifice bunt. A single center by Luis Castillo scored Fox and chased Smith after 1 1/3 innings and 42 pitches. But reliever Luther Hackman was rudely greeted by Encarnacion, who sliced a run-scoring triple to right. Wilson followed with an RBI single.
Staked to a four-run lead, Beckett coasted retiring eight consecutive batters before Albert Pujols' two-out single in the fifth. St. Louis sliced the Marlins' four-run lead in half when Edmonds crushed a two-run homer to center.
Edmonds' 22nd homer traveled 429-feet.
Given an early cushion, Josh Beckett (4-4) was able to post his second win in three starts, despite not having his best stuff.
The 22-year-old rookie settled down after a rough second and turned in a respectable six-inning performance. The right-hander was touched for five runs on seven hits, walked three and struck out eight.
In relief, Armando Almanza pitched a perfect seventh and Vladimir Nunez worked out of trouble in the eighth, aided by a 4-6-3 double play by Renteria, who had an eight-game hitting streak stopped.
Braden Looper picked up his third save in six opportunities, and he lowered his home ERA to 0.86.
Travis Smith (4-2) suffered the loss, giving up six runs in 1 1/3 innings.
Notorious slow starters, the Marlins have been outscored 95-56 in the first. But Wednesday they reversed the trend by scoring four times off Smith.
Mike Redmond delivered the key blow, a three-run double.
Juan Encarnacion, who was hit by a pitch, got the rally started. The right fielder stole second and scored on Preston Wilson's double. Walks to Mike Lowell and Eric Owens loaded the bases with two outs.
Before Redmond's three-run double, the Marlins were 17-for-100 with the bases loaded. Twice Florida failed to score with the bags full in Tuesday's 5-0 loss.
But the Cardinals countered with three runs while batting around in the second. Jim Edmonds led off with a double and scored on Scott Rolen's single, his third RBI in two games since joining St. Louis on Monday. Tino Martinez singled and a walk to Edgar Renteria filled the bases for Eli Marrero, who lifted an RBI sacrifice fly to center. Smith then punched across a third run when his squeeze bunt dropped in for a single when Lee couldn't make the catch while charging from first.
Smith's struggles continued in the second as the Marlins tacked on three more runs, en route to building a 7-3 lead.
Andy Fox opened with a single and moved to second on Beckett's sacrifice bunt. A single center by Luis Castillo scored Fox and chased Smith after 1 1/3 innings and 42 pitches. But reliever Luther Hackman was rudely greeted by Encarnacion, who sliced a run-scoring triple to right. Wilson followed with an RBI single.
Staked to a four-run lead, Beckett coasted retiring eight consecutive batters before Albert Pujols' two-out single in the fifth. St. Louis sliced the Marlins' four-run lead in half when Edmonds crushed a two-run homer to center.
Edmonds' 22nd homer traveled 429-feet.