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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
MIAMI (AP) -- Desperate for right-handed hitters Sunday against
Randy Johnson, Florida Marlins manager John Boles started Kevin
Millar in left field for the first time this season.
"Are you nervous?" Boles asked Millar before the game.
"No, but I know you are," Millar joked.
Boles' move paid off. Millar had no trouble in the field and
went 4-for-4, including an RBI double to cap a two-run eighth
inning after Johnson left the game, and Florida rallied past the
Arizona Diamondbacks 4-3.
| | Randy Johnson threw 145 pitches, his highest total in two seasons with Arizona, but didn't get win No. 16. |
Johnson departed with a 3-2 lead after seven innings but did not
get his 16th victory. On a humid, 89-degree afternoon he threw 145
pitches, his highest total in two seasons with Arizona, and struck
out 11.
"They made me really work out there," Johnson said. "I feel
pretty worn out."
Three of Millar's career-high four hits came against Johnson,
including a homer leading off the seventh to make the score 3-2.
"If he makes his pitch, you're going to be out," Millar said.
"You've got to get that mistake and hit it."
Boles got nine right-handed hitters into the lineup by starting
Millar, a reserve who fills in mostly at first base.
"What a great left fielder he is," Boles joked. "Kevin has
super confidence in himself, even when he shouldn't."
Luis Gonzalez homered twice, giving him 22 this year, to drive
in Arizona's runs. The Diamondbacks lost two of three to Florida
and ended a nine-game trip leading the NL West by one-half game
over the San Francisco Giants.
The Marlins earned their second consecutive come-from-behind win
without left fielder Cliff Floyd and shortstop Alex Gonzalez, who
recently went on the disabled list.
Florida's Mark Smith singled to start the eighth against Mike
Morgan (4-3). Preston Wilson lined out to shortstop Tony Womack,
who threw wildly to first trying to double up Smith, allowing the
runner to reach second.
Derrek Lee's two-out single on a 3-2 pitch tied the game, and
Millar followed with a run-scoring double.
"I let it get away, end of story," Morgan said. "The key to
the inning was the leadoff hitter. He got on, and it led to
disaster."
Armando Almanza (3-0) pitched a perfect eighth. Antonio
Alfonseca worked the ninth for his 31st save, most in the major
leagues.
Johnson allowed seven hits and two runs, one on a wild pitch. He
reached double figures in strikeouts for the 16th time this season
and the 141st time in his career.
"I battled out there," he said. "It wasn't easy today. I got
through some tough innings."
Florida scratched out a run in the first. Luis Castillo led off
with a double and stole third. With two out and Wilson at bat,
Johnson threw a 2-2 breaking pitch into the dirt, and when the ball
rolled behind catcher Kelly Stinnett, Castillo scored easily.
Gonzalez tied it with a leadoff homer in the fourth against Ryan
Dempster, then put Arizona ahead 3-1 in the sixth with a two-run
homer after Danny Bautista reached on an error by shortstop Dave
Berg.
Dempster allowed the Diamondbacks five hits and three runs, two
earned, in seven innings.
"You can't be giving them stuff with Johnson on the mound,"
Dempster said. "You've got to make them earn it."
With a smile, he added, "You wait it out and let Millar do his
thing."
Game notes
Dempster is 1-9 lifetime in July with an ERA of 7.37. In
his other 45 games he's 16-12 with a 3.96 ERA. ... Gonzalez's
multihomer game was the seventh of his career and his first since
Aug. 22, 1999. ... Arizona fell to 7-3 at Pro Player Stadium. ...
Lee, 3-for-3 previously against Johnson, struck out in all three
at-bats Sunday against the left-hander. ... In his past 10
appearances, Diamondbacks closer Matt Mantei has allowed only four
hits and one run over 10 1/3 innings for an 0.87 ERA.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Arizona Clubhouse
Florida Clubhouse
RECAPS
Baltimore 10 Cleveland 7
Tampa Bay 7 Kansas City 6
NY Yankees 7 Minnesota 4
Oakland 5 Boston 2
Seattle 10 Toronto 6
Chi. White Sox 11 Anaheim 7
Detroit 8 Texas 7
Atlanta 6 Houston 3
Cincinnati 7 Montreal 4
Philadelphia 3 Los Angeles 2
San Diego 9 Pittsburgh 8
NY Mets 4 St. Louis 2
Milwaukee 3 Colorado 2
Chicago Cubs 3 San Francisco 1
Florida 4 Arizona 3
AUDIO/VIDEO
Ryan Dempster says the Marlins do not quit.
wav: 112 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Randy Johnson feels tired.
wav: 109 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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