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Marlins come up in clutch for one-run win | |||||||||||||
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GAME LOG
MIAMI (AP) – With some clutch relief pitching and flashy glove work, the Florida Marlins earned a rare one-run win. Mike Lowell hit a two-run homer, Andy Benes walked in the tiebreaking run and Florida edged the St. Louis Cardinals 4-3 Tuesday night. The Marlins improved to 3-7 in one-run games. "I knew we weren't going to lose them all," Lowell joked. Four relievers combined to shut out St. Louis over the final five innings, with plenty of help from the defense. The field was sloppy from rain that fell during most of the game, but the Marlins turned three double plays and made three highlight-reel catches in the ninth. Center fielder Preston Wilson's running, diving catch robbed Edgar Renteria leading off the inning. After Jim Edmonds doubled against Antonio Alfonseca, first baseman Derrek Lee made a running grab of Albert Pujols' pop foul near the dugout. Wilson then retreated to the warning track for a running catch of Larry Sutton's fly to end the game. "Two great plays by Preston," Alfonseca said. "Those are maybe a double if he doesn't catch it." Wilson also had three hits, including an RBI double to tie the game at 3 in the fifth. "There are not that many nights when you're able to contribute on both sides of the ball," Wilson said. "Those are the fun games." St. Louis stranded 11 runners and had a runner tagged out straying off third base on a missed bunt. "Boy oh boy, did the Cardinals have chances," Marlins manager John Boles said. "Somebody was looking after us tonight." Ray Lankford hit his fifth home run and J.D. Drew his ninth in the fourth inning to help St. Louis take a 3-0 lead. Lowell's fourth homer in the bottom of the inning started Florida's comeback. "Any time you get a lead and lose it, it hurts," Cardinals catcher Mike Matheny said. "We've been battling from behind so much this year, we know how frustrating it is to try to come back. So when you have a lead, you don't want to blow it." Vladimir Nunez (2-2) pitched two scoreless innings. Dan Miceli struck out Lankford with the bases loaded to end the seventh, then got Fernando Vina to bunt into an out with runners at second and third to end the eighth. Alfonseca earned his fourth save in five chances. Marlins slugger Cliff Floyd was ejected from the dugout by plate umpire Mike DiMuro in the fifth for arguing called strikes. The next batter, Charles Johnson, walked to force in a run, putting Florida ahead 4-3 and sending Benes to the showers. Benes (1-2) doubled home the game's first run, but he allowed nine hits, five walks and four runs in 4 1/3 innings. "There's a fine line between being good and things looking ugly," he said. Florida starter Jason Grilli allowed three runs in four innings, hiking his ERA to 6.31. The rookie faces a likely demotion to Triple-A Calgary this weekend when the Marlins activate two starters, A.J. Burnett and Chuck Smith, from the disabled list. Game notesThree of the Marlins' first four hitters were thrown out trying to steal by Gold Glove catcher Matheny. They didn't attempt another steal. ... The start was Grilli's first against St. Louis. His father, former major league pitcher Steve Grilli, is a Cardinals scouting supervisor. ... Florida shortstop Alex Gonzalez has 12 walks, one fewer than all of last year. ... The Marlins overcame a three-run deficit to win for the second time this season.  Send this story to a friend
| RECAPS Baltimore 3 Tampa Bay 1
Florida 4
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