NL: Marlins' confidence on rise as rout secures split
By Associated Press
Published September 13, 2004
CHICAGO - The Florida Marlins think they can emerge from the wild-card pack and pull out a playoff berth.
Juan Pierre had three of Florida's 15 hits, A.J. Burnett pitched eight strong innings and the Marlins beat the Cubs 11-1 Sunday to split their crucial four-game series.
Alex Gonzalez hit a two-run double and Paul Lo Duca added a two-run single for the Marlins, who are 21/2 games behind San Francisco in a six-team wild-card race. The Cubs fell a game behind the Giants for the top spot.
"I have that feeling," Florida manager Jack McKeon said. "This race is going to be very exciting. There's no guarantees, but I feel good about how we're playing."
Florida, which has won 11 of 14 overall, is staying in Chicago to play at least two games against Montreal at U.S. Cellular Field, home of the White Sox, beginning today. The games were moved from Miami because of the threat of Hurricane Ivan. The defending World Series champions will be the home team.
The Cubs and Marlins meet again in a makeup doubleheader Sept. 20 in Florida.
"They beat us pretty good," Chicago manager Dusty Baker said. "They were hitting the ball all over the park."
After entering 0-6 on the road, Burnett took a shutout into the seventh and helped himself with two hits. He has won a career-best four straight starts and five of his past six.
"I was just looking to win," said Burnett, who allowed one run and six hits. "I haven't gotten a road win all year. This is a good place to start."
ASTROS 5, PIRATES 4 (10): Jason Lane's pinch-hit double drove in the go-ahead run and visiting Houston, hitless against Dave Williams for six innings, rallied.
The Astros' Roy Oswalt left with a 4-2 lead after seven and was in position to become the league's first 18-game winner, but Pittsburgh rallied for two runs against closer Brad Lidge. Bobby Hill's single off Lidge in the eighth made it 4-3, and Craig Wilson tied it leading off the ninth with his 27th homer.
PADRES 15, ROCKIES 2: Brian Giles hit a tiebreaking homer in the eighth, then capped a 12-run ninth with a three-run homer for visiting San Diego. The Padres had 18 hits and won for the fourth time in 12 games.
With the score tied at 2 in the eighth, Giles connected off Steve Reed to reach 20 homers for the sixth straight season. San Diego tied a team record with 10 hits in the ninth and finished one run shy of the team record for an inning.
BRAVES 9, EXPOS 8 (12): Andruw Jones hit a winning double to lead host Atlanta after John Smoltz blew a three-run lead in the ninth. Smoltz, who failed to convert a save for the fourth time in 41 chances, had an 8-5 lead but gave up run-scoring singles to Endy Chavez, Terrmel Sledge and Juan Rivera.
With the score still tied in the 12th, Charles Thomas led off with a sharp grounder that shortstop Alex Gonzalez bobbled for an error. Jones followed with a drive off Luis Ayala that bounced to the wall in left-center.
PHILLIES 4, METS 2: Vicente Padilla pitched 62/3 shutout innings in his best start since coming off the disabled list Aug. 9 and led visiting Philadelphia to a three-game sweep.
Two weeks short of his 27th birthday, Padilla retired the first 11, allowed four hits, struck out five and walked one. He was sidelined for 21/2 months because of tendinitis in his right elbow and had been 1-2 in six starts since he was activated.
CARDINALS 7, DODGERS 6: Larry Walker went 4-for-5 with two homers and three RBIs as St. Louis ended Los Angeles' five-game winning streak. The Cardinals ended their first losing road trip of the season at 2-4 but reduced their magic number to five for clinching the Central.
BREWERS 11, REDS 0: Russell Branyan and Brady Clark combined for three home runs and six RBIs against their former team, and visiting Milwaukee split the four-game series.
