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GAME LOG
MIAMI (AP) – Even with his leg cramping and his shoe coming off, Brian Hunter was fast enough to score from second base on a flyout. Hunter's hustle in the seventh inning produced the go-ahead run, and the Philadelphia Phillies notched their second consecutive one-run win Tuesday night, beating the Florida Marlins 4-3. Hunter, one of the fastest players in the major leagues, narrowly beat the throw home even though he stumbled after rounding third. "As soon as I came around third base, I felt a little cramp in my right leg," he said. "So I stepped kind of funny, and my left shoe came off." A 2-0 record is a pleasant change for the Phillies under new manager Larry Bowa. Last year they started 0-3, and were 7-18 and 18-33 on their way to a 65-97 finish, which tied for worst in the major leagues. "I like some things that are happening," Bowa said, "but it's a long season." For the Marlins, the two narrow losses represent a reversal. Last year they were 32-20 in one-run games, best in the National League. Florida manager John Boles was unhappy his team allowed Hunter's run. "That's a play I don't expect a guy to score on," Boles said. "But he's very fast. He took the gamble, and he won." Hunter led off the seventh with a single off reliever Braden Looper (0-1) and stole second. Doug Glanville then hit a drive over the head of center fielder Preston Wilson, who was playing shallow. Wilson made the catch sprinting toward the wall, and Hunter tagged at second, never hesitated rounding third and narrowly beat shortstop Alex Gonzalez's relay throw home. "First I thought, 'No, no, no.' Then I thought, 'Yeah,' " Bowa said. "It was a great play. The dugout erupted. Sometimes plays like that are even better than a home run." Third-base coach John Vukovich waved Hunter around. "He tagged up so perfectly and was off the catch so well," Vukovich said. "All the little things were there. But if I had seen him blow his shoe, I would have held him up." Boles said Wilson did all he could after making the catch, but Gonzalez may have held the ball briefly before realizing that Hunter was trying for home. "I was surprised he ran," Gonzalez admitted. "The guy flies." Five Philadelphia pitchers combined on a six-hitter with 12 strikeouts. New Phillies closer Jose Mesa, who blew a save Monday when he balked home a run, pitched a scoreless ninth. Chris Brock (1-0) earned the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Mike Lieberthal hit a solo homer for Philadelphia in the second. "It's going to be a huge turnaround from last year," Hunter said. "This is a very exciting ballclub. It's going to be a lot of fun this year." Eric Owens became the first player to homer in his first two games with Florida. Teammate Cliff Floyd also homered for the second time in as many games. Philadelphia starter Robert Person gave up four hits, including both homers, and three runs. Matt Clement, acquired by the Marlins last week from San Diego, allowed six hits and three runs in five innings. Attendance dropped from 36,146 for the opener to 10,257. Luis Castillo led off the Marlins' first with a single, and Floyd hit a homer estimated at 427 feet. Bobby Abreu singled, stole second and scored on Scott Rolen's double in the third. Glanville doubled and came home on Abreu's single in the fifth. Owens' solo homer in the fifth made it 3-3. Game notesHall of Famer Mike Schmidt, who lives in Jupiter, Fla., threw out the first pitch and visited before the game with former Phillies teammate Bowa. "You put Larry in the right environment, he'll lead a team to the World Series," Schmidt said. "You can only go as far as your talent will let you go." ... For the first time at Veterans Stadium, the Phils will open their home schedule with three consecutive day games Friday through Sunday against Chicago. ... Gonzalez walked for the second time in as many games. Last year, he walked once after the All-Star break and 13 times all season.  Send this story to a friend
| RECAPS Minnesota 3 Detroit 2
Philadelphia 4
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