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GAME LOG
MIAMI (AP) -- Mark Kotsay changed the Florida Marlins' night in a
hurry.
Kotsay's seventh-inning grand slam helped the Marlins rally past
the Milwaukee Brewers 5-4 Wednesday night.
"There's no substitute like the long ball," said Florida
manager John Boles, whose team has won five of six to move within
two games of .500. "When you get that instant offense, it just
means everything."
Kotsay was 4-for-4 with three singles and his second career
grand slam for the Marlins, who overcame three solo home runs by
Milwaukee.
Braden Looper (2-1) got two outs in the seventh for the win, and
Antonio Alfonseca pitched out of a jam in the ninth for his 21st
save in 24 opportunities.
Trailing 3-1, Florida loaded the bases against Milwaukee starter
Jimmy Haynes (7-6).
Derrek Lee hit a leadoff infield single. After Alex Gonzalez
grounded into a fielder's choice, Paul Bako fouled out to the
shortstop. Mark Smith drew a pinch-hit walk, and Luis Castillo hit
an infield single to load the bases.
Kotsay then hit a 1-1 pitch from Valerio De Los Santos, who came
on in relief of Haynes, to give Florida a 5-3 lead.
"With two out, I was looking for a quality at-bat," Kotsay
said. "Obviously, he left a pitch out over the plate. I hit it
better than I've hit a ball in a long time."
The Brewers saw Kotsay one more time than necessary.
"That's just inexcusable. That cannot happen," Milwaukee
manager Davey Lopes said. "To be honest with you, I couldn't
believe it. All I know is, it went too far. You cannot give a
left-hander a pitch like that to drive."
Lopes defended his decision to bring in the left-handed De Los
Santos to face Kotsay, who was batting .255 against lefties with no
home runs.
"If you can't use your left-hander in that situation, when do
you use him?" Lopes said. "He doesn't belong on the ballclub if
you can't use him."
Alfonseca allowed one run in the bottom of the ninth when Jose
Hernandez drove in Charlie Hayes with a single. Alfonseca then gave
up a single to Raul Casanova before getting pinch-hitter Lyle
Mouton to pop out to second with runners on first and third to end
the game.
The Brewers, who entered the game in next-to-last place in the
National League with 71 home runs, got solo shots from Jeromy
Burnitz, Marquis Grissom and Tyler Houston. The three homers tied
the team's single-game season high.
All three Brewers home runs came off Florida starter Reid
Cornelius, who lasted 6 1/3 innings and allowed seven hits.
Cornelius had allowed only two home runs all season.
Grissom's homer in the sixth gave the Brewers a 1-0 lead.
The Marlins tied it 1-1 in the sixth on Preston Wilson's
groundout. Castillo led off with a single and took third on
Kotsay's bloop single to right. With one out, Wilson hit a grounder
to shortstop, scoring Castillo.
The Marlins threatened in the fifth, when Mike Lowell hit a
double that Grissom allowed to drop in front of him in center
field. Lowell moved to third on Lee's groundout, but Gonzalez
grounded out and Cornelius struck out.
Burnitz and Houston each homered in the seventh to chase
Cornelius, who was 2-0 with a 2.03 ERA in his previous four starts,
and give the Brewers a 3-1 lead.
Then, it was Kotsay's turn to play hero.
"From the time I stepped out into the on-deck circle, I wanted
to stay relaxed," Kotsay said. "I didn't go up there thinking
that I had to get a hit or do anything special.
"I felt comfortable the entire game. When you get on a roll
like that, the bat feels good in your hands."
Haynes gave up four runs on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings.
The Marlins improved to 14-11 in one-run games.
"It gets a little stressful in these types of games, but it
builds character, and we have plenty of that," Boles said.
Game
notes
Burnitz is one hit from reaching the 500-hit plateau with
Milwaukee. ... Burnitz's home run was his first since May 28, a
span of 73 at-bats. ... 2B Ron Belliard has hit safely in eight of
his last 10 road games. ... Chuck Smith, the Marlins' 30-year-old
rookie, has been impressive in his two starts, including Monday's
11 strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings against Milwaukee. ... The game drew
8,070, putting it among the lowest of the year for the Marlins. The
first two games of the series drew 7,612 and 7,743.
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