Baseball
NL: Marlins deliver the pain
By Wire services
Published April 23, 2004
PHILADELPHIA - The Phillies might have better luck against the Florida Marlins in a boxing ring. They haven't had much success against them on the field.
Mike Lowell homered again and Mike Redmond also connected, helping Florida win 9-7 Thursday for another sweep of Philadelphia in a game that featured a bench-clearing brawl.
Phillies catcher Todd Pratt and Marlins shortstop Alex Gonzalez were ejected for starting a melee in the second inning after Brett Myers threw one high and inside to Gonzalez.
"You can't take that. You do nothing, the next time he hits you," Gonzalez said, adding that he wasn't going to charge the mound.
Pratt said he just wanted to go out and talk to Myers.
"I had to defend myself as soon as he raised his hands," Pratt said. "He underestimated me. I'm a big guy, but I can box. I grew up in a rough neighborhood."
Lowell, who homered three times in Florida's 8-7, 12-inning win Wednesday night, struck out his first three at-bats but hit a two-run shot off Rheal Cormier in the ninth.
The World Series champion Marlins held on for their third straight three-game sweep over Philadelphia. The Phillies scored twice in the ninth before Armando Benitez struck out Jim Thome with two on to end it.
Florida has won 18 of the past 20 games, and six in a row this season, against the Phillies, who blew a slim wild-card lead over Florida down the stretch last season.
Thome homered for the second time in two games. The Phillies have lost three straight after winning four in a row.
Darren Oliver allowed five runs and six hits in 51/3 innings. Benitez got his eighth save in eight chances, including five against the Phillies.
After Redmond homered in the second inning, Myers' next pitch almost hit Gonzalez, who took a step toward the mound and pointed at the pitcher.
Pratt quickly stepped in and exchanged words with Gonzalez. The Marlins shortstop swatted at Pratt, who then retaliated with a right cross.
Both benches cleared as Pratt, in a boxing stance, threw several punches. Meanwhile, Marlins pitcher Carl Pavano threw Phillies third baseman David Bell to the ground.
REDS 5, BRAVES 3 (5): Slumping Ken Griffey hit a two-run single and host Cincinnati took advantage of Jaret Wright's wildness in a rain-shortened game.
The start was delayed by rain, which returned and prompted the umpires to halt the game with two outs in the bottom of the fifth.
Wright sat out a one-hour rain delay before the first pitch, then lasted 43 minutes. Nine of the 13 batters he faced reached.
D'BACKS 11, BREWERS 9 (15): Danny Bautista homered twice and singled home the go-ahead run as visiting Arizona stopped its losing streak at four. Milwaukee rallied for three runs in the ninth, tying it at 9 on a two-run homer by pinch-hitter Brooks Kieschnick off Matt Mantei. The teams played 5 hours, 22 minutes, the longest game in the majors this season.
CARDINALS 2, ASTROS 1 (12): Hector Luna's sacrifice bunt scored Reggie Sanders to lead St. Louis to a 6-0 road start, its best since 1941. Cardinals starter Jason Marquis didn't give up a run until Craig Biggio's single in the seventh tied it at 1.
METS 3, EXPOS 2: Steve Trachsel and two relievers combined on a five-hitter, Mike Piazza hit a go-ahead double and host New York extended Montreal's seasonlong slump. With 26 runs this season, the Expos are the first team not to score more than four in any of its first 16 games since the 1968 White Sox, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
ROCKIES 7, DODGERS 1 (6): Matt Holliday hit his first major-league homer and drove in three, leading Shawn Estes and Colorado in a rain-shortened game. The Rockies won two of three at Coors Field, the first series Los Angeles has lost this season.
PADRES 9, GIANTS 4: Phil Nevin hit a two-run homer and visiting San Diego had another big offensive outing on a day San Francisco slugger Barry Bonds rested. The Padres took three of four by pounding 52 hits.
CUBS AT PIRATES, PPD.: The rainout was rescheduled as part of a May 28 doubleheader starting at 5:05 p.m.
[Last modified April 23, 2004, 01:20:38]
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