Baseball Guru
04-11-2002, 05:21 AM
By MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer
April 10, 2002, 10:30 PM EDT
MIAMI -- The Montreal Expos finally figured out Brad Penny. The Florida Marlins wish they could say the same thing about Michael Barrett.
Barrett drove in a career-high six runs, giving him 13 RBIs in five games against Florida this season, as the Expos beat the Marlins 9-7 Wednesday night.
Florida lost its third consecutive game, but the smallest crowd in team history was hand for it. Only 5,422 turned out to watch the two struggling franchises that spent the offseason dealing with talk about relocation or elimination.
Penny, who entered 6-0 with a 0.82 ERA in six starts against Montreal, had trouble locating pitches. He allowed seven hits, five walks and seven runs in 4 2-3 innings.
Penny (1-1) also hurt his right index finger trying to snare a ground ball up the middle in the fifth. Preliminary X-rays were negative, and team officials said he was expected to make his next start.
Barrett drove in four early runs against Penny, then added a two-run home run in the ninth. It was his fourth homer of the season -- all against the Marlins.
Barrett had a sacrifice fly in the fourth, then delivered a two-out, bases-loaded double that scored all three runners in the fifth.
Barrett improved to 9-for-20 (.450) with all of his homers and all of his RBIs this season against the Marlins.
The Marlins aren't surprised by it, either.
Former Expos strength and conditioning coach Dale Torborg, a former bodybuilder and professional wrestler who is now the Marlins strength and conditioning coach, convinced Barrett to start a rigorous weight training program last year.
It has paid off. After Barrett's three-run homer Monday, Florida manager Jeff Torborg turned to his son and said, "Nice going."
Carl Pavano, who lost a 1-0 duel last week when Penny tossed a four-hitter, gave up three runs and eight hits in 6 1-3 innings. Pavano (1-1) also walked two and struck out six.
Florida's Cliff Floyd hit his third homer of the season, a two-run shot in the seventh that cut the lead to 7-4, and Mike Lowell hit a two-run homer off Matt Herges in the ninth. With a runner on first, Charles Johnson hit a game-ending flyout.
Notes:@ Expos OF Brad Wilkerson has reached in each of the team's eight games this season. ... After blowing his first three save opportunities, Florida RHP Braden Looper has been moved back to a setup role. RHP Vladimir Nunez is the new closer. ... Florida's previous attendance low was 6,955 on May 17, 2000, against San Diego.
AP Sports Writer
April 10, 2002, 10:30 PM EDT
MIAMI -- The Montreal Expos finally figured out Brad Penny. The Florida Marlins wish they could say the same thing about Michael Barrett.
Barrett drove in a career-high six runs, giving him 13 RBIs in five games against Florida this season, as the Expos beat the Marlins 9-7 Wednesday night.
Florida lost its third consecutive game, but the smallest crowd in team history was hand for it. Only 5,422 turned out to watch the two struggling franchises that spent the offseason dealing with talk about relocation or elimination.
Penny, who entered 6-0 with a 0.82 ERA in six starts against Montreal, had trouble locating pitches. He allowed seven hits, five walks and seven runs in 4 2-3 innings.
Penny (1-1) also hurt his right index finger trying to snare a ground ball up the middle in the fifth. Preliminary X-rays were negative, and team officials said he was expected to make his next start.
Barrett drove in four early runs against Penny, then added a two-run home run in the ninth. It was his fourth homer of the season -- all against the Marlins.
Barrett had a sacrifice fly in the fourth, then delivered a two-out, bases-loaded double that scored all three runners in the fifth.
Barrett improved to 9-for-20 (.450) with all of his homers and all of his RBIs this season against the Marlins.
The Marlins aren't surprised by it, either.
Former Expos strength and conditioning coach Dale Torborg, a former bodybuilder and professional wrestler who is now the Marlins strength and conditioning coach, convinced Barrett to start a rigorous weight training program last year.
It has paid off. After Barrett's three-run homer Monday, Florida manager Jeff Torborg turned to his son and said, "Nice going."
Carl Pavano, who lost a 1-0 duel last week when Penny tossed a four-hitter, gave up three runs and eight hits in 6 1-3 innings. Pavano (1-1) also walked two and struck out six.
Florida's Cliff Floyd hit his third homer of the season, a two-run shot in the seventh that cut the lead to 7-4, and Mike Lowell hit a two-run homer off Matt Herges in the ninth. With a runner on first, Charles Johnson hit a game-ending flyout.
Notes:@ Expos OF Brad Wilkerson has reached in each of the team's eight games this season. ... After blowing his first three save opportunities, Florida RHP Braden Looper has been moved back to a setup role. RHP Vladimir Nunez is the new closer. ... Florida's previous attendance low was 6,955 on May 17, 2000, against San Diego.