Marlins Squander Scoring Chances In Loss To Padres
SAN DIEGO (CBS4)- Although a sore big toe prevented Florida's Mike Stanton from starting, he still tried to be a big influence.
But with his team trailing, the Marlins' big power hitter pinch hit and struck out with the bases loaded against San Diego rookie Erik Hamren in a key moment in the Padres' 4-3 win over Florida on Friday night
Stanton injured his big toe Thursday night when he jammed it running into the right-field wall while attempting to chase down Nick Hundley's triple. Stanton said he wasn't able to run before the game.
But manager Jack McKeon knew that Stanton was his choice to face Hamren with the bases loaded, one out and the Marlins trailing 4-2 in the sixth.
Hamren relieved Wade LeBlanc and struck out Stanton on a slider, then walked Emilio Bonifacio to force in a run and cut the lead to 4-3. But Hamren struck out Sanchez to escape further damage.
"We had all the opportunities in the world to break it open," McKeon said. "We have to get some production out of those guys. They need to come through or were hurting."
Florida stranded 12 base runners and was 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position.
"I did my job because I kept the lead," Hamren said. "Obviously, you don't want to give up any runs coming in. As long as we still came out with the lead, you learn to live with some mistakes because you're not going to be perfect all the time."
Kyle Blanks hit a two-run homer and made a great catch in left field for the Padres, who handed Florida its 13th loss in 15 games. San Diego won its fifth straight over the Marlins this season, outscoring them 30-10.
Blanks crushed a ball into the second deck in left field to put the Padres ahead to stay 3-2 in the fourth inning. The 6-foot-6 Blanks also made a running catch to rob Gaby Sanchez of an extra- base hit in the fifth inning.
LeBlanc (2-2) had a shaky outing but the bullpen held the Marlins in check to give San Diego its fourth win in six games after dropping four of the previous six.
Blanks' towering shot off Chris Volstad (5-10) was his fourth. Volstad has allowed 20 homers in 22 starts this season.
"It's been pretty common," Volstad said. "I hung a slider to (Blanks) for two runs. It was a tough one. It's getting pretty frustrating for me."
San Diego's five relievers allowed two hits over the final 3 2-3 innings to secure the win. Heath Bell pitched the ninth for this 34th save in 37 chances.
Jose Lopez had three doubles to tie a Marlins record and drove in a run in the first inning. Volstad added an RBI double in the fourth.
San Diego scored in the first after Will Venable led off with a walk, stole second and scored on Cameron Maybin's single. The Marlins have allowed eight first-inning runs in their last three games.
LeBlanc won his second straight start after having gone eight starts without a win, dating back to last August. The lefty allowed three runs on six hits over 5 1-3 innings. He walked four and struck out three.
Volstad lasted five innings after giving up four runs on six hits with seven strikeouts and one walk.
