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  Friday, Jun. 2 7:05pm ET
Marlins squelch Blue Jays' rally
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME LOG

MIAMI (AP) -- The Florida Marlins are more like sharks when it comes to the American League.

Preston Wilson homered, doubled and drove in four runs as the Marlins kept up their interleague success, beating the Toronto Blue Jays 11-10 Friday night.

The Marlins have feasted on the AL since interleague play began three years ago, and are now a major-league best 32-18 since the start -- that, of course, does not include their win over Cleveland in the 1997 World Series.

They are 8-2 overall against Toronto.

"I guess that was an American League game," Florida manager John Boles said. "Yeah, we're fortunate to get that one. The American League clubs are used to playing this type of ballgame, they put runs up on the board like it's nothing."

Marlins players have said they aren't sure why they have played so well against the other league. Outfielder Mark Kotsay said it may have something to do with Florida's youth, and other teams taking them lightly because of it.

The Blue Jays didn't disagree with that thinking after losing another close game to Florida. Four of the prior six matchups between the clubs were decided in the last at-bat.

"They don't have a real, real good team," Toronto outfielder Raul Mondesi said. "They have nothing to lose. Those are the teams that can kill you."

Cliff Floyd and Mike Lowell each had three hits for the Marlins, who led 9-2 after three innings.

Shannon Stewart, who led off the game with a home run and tied a career high with four RBI, helped the Blue Jays rally within 10-9 in the seventh. He finished 4-for-4 with two walks.

Ricky Bones (1-0) got his first major league win since Sept. 14, 1998. He pitched 2 1/3 innings and also hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth that made it 10-6.

"It's nice to get the 'W' in this situation and stop a losing streak," Bones said.

Antonio Alfonseca pitched the ninth for his 16th save in 18 chances. He gave up a sacrifice fly by Craig Grebeck.

It could have been worse though as Floyd leaped in the air to glove Greback's ball in left field.

"I'm tired of coming out of games in the eighth inning," said Floyd, who has been taken out in the past for defensive reasons. "I thought when he hit it it was high enough I could gamble a little bit."

Greback said the ball was inside and he just missed getting around on it.

"I thought I had enough to get it off the wall," he said. "I didn't think it was a home run, but if Floyd wasn't 6-foot-8 he wouldn't have caught it."

Mondesi, who began the night hitting .204 with no home runs in his last 13 games, hit a three-run homer in the Toronto fourth off Brad Penny.

In the seventh, the Blue Jays closed to 10-9 when Stewart doubled home two runs and scored on a single by Mondesi.

Blue Jays starter Peter Munro (1-1) allowed the first five hitters to reach base, with Wilson's two-run double making it 3-1. Alex Gonzalez added an RBI double later in the inning.

The Marlins, who entered having lost 11 of their prior 13, chased Munro in the second following a two-run double by Mike Lowell that made it 6-2.

Wilson hit a two-run homer in the third. It was his 12th homer of the year.

The Marlins, who lead the NL in runs during interleague play, are averaging 5.2 runs in 50 games against the AL.

They needed every one of them Friday.

"That's why you play hard the whole game. Anyone can come back the score doesn't matter," Wilson said. "We got off to a good start and finally gave our pitchers some runs and held on."

Game notes
Both Toronto and Florida had shortstops named Alex Gonzalez batting seventh. The players, who both doubled to virtually the same place in center in their first at-bats, are not related. They both finished with two hits. ... The Marlins promoted RHP Joe Strong, who earlier this year at age 37 became the oldest rookie in the majors in almost 40 years, from Triple-A Calgary. ... Stewart hit his seventh career leadoff homer.

 


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