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Tuesday, Apr. 18 7:05pm ET
First-place Marlins enjoy a blowout win | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
MIAMI (AP) -- The Florida Marlins moved into first place by winning close games. On Tuesday night, they won a blowout. Rookie Brad Penny pitched seven innings, and eight players drove in runs to help the NL East leaders beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 12-5. The surprising Marlins, 5-1 in one-run games, totaled 17 hits and blew the game open with six runs in the sixth inning. "That was nice," manager John Boles said. "We've been in so many pressure-packed games, it's nice to open up a lead like that and let everybody relax a little bit." The Marlins (9-6), who had the worst record in the major leagues the past two years, returned to Miami following a 4-3 road swing, their first winning trip since last June. Florida was welcomed home by a crowd of just 9,494. The Florida Panthers had a home playoff game Tuesday night, and the Miami Heat were also at home. Last year the Marlins waited until May 11 for their ninth win en route to a 64-98 record. "We're riding this wave we're on," left fielder Cliff Floyd said. "It's a great feeling. Everybody is having fun." Florida, which has come from behind in all but one victory, rallied this time from a 1-0 deficit. Floyd went 2-for-3 with three walks, two RBI and two runs scored. Mark Kotsay had two hits, two stolen bases and two assists in right field. Mike Lowell hit a two-run double, giving him 16 RBI. "It's been a long time since we've had this kind of production offensively," Boles said. Penny (2-1), making his third major-league start, allowed eight hits and three runs. He had an infield single in the fifth for his first big league hit, then collected his first RBI with another single in the sixth. Penny will fly home to Oklahoma on Wednesday for the funeral of his grandfather, who died Sunday. "I tried not to think about it," he said. "You don't want to say, 'This is for my grandfather,' because then if you don't pitch well, you'll feel bad." Keith Osik hit a two-run homer for Pittsburgh, and Chad Hermansen had a pair of RBI singles. Francisco Cordova (1-1) allowed eight hits and six runs in four innings. "Cordova wasn't as sharp as he has been," Pirates manager Gene Lamont said. "He was getting behind some hitters." Florida went ahead to stay with four runs in the second. Kevin Millar and Paul Bako singled, and Chris Clapinski tripled in two runs. Kotsay singled home another run, and Preston Wilson's sacrifice fly made the score 4-1. The Marlins added two runs in the fourth. Kotsay led off with a single, stole second and continued to third when Jason Kendall's throw went into center field. Floyd doubled home one run, then scored on a single by Wilson. Florida blew the game open in the sixth. Lowell hit a two-run double and scored on Millar's single. Penny's single made it 10-2, Alex Gonzalez added an RBI single and Floyd walked with the bases loaded to force in another run. "It's a long season, but they've surely improved. Those guys are really swinging the bat well," Lamont said. Game notesPittsburgh right-hander Jason Schmidt's next start was pushed back from Thursday to at least Saturday because of shoulder inflammation. He'll throw on the side Wednesday, and if he's still hurting he may go on the disabled list, Lamont said. ... The Marlins improved to 8-for-17 in steal attempts. ... The Marlins' bullpen didn't allow a run in 22 1/3 innings on the team's seven-game road trip. ... The Pirates have allowed just one earned run in the first inning this season. ... Pirates pitchers are 0-for-24 at the plate this season. ... Gonzalez has already walked five times. He walked 15 times in 560 at-bats last year as a rookie. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Pittsburgh Clubhouse Florida Clubhouse RECAPS Tampa Bay 0 Baltimore 0
Florida 12
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