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Lowry effective as Giants down sloppy Marlins

Aug 19, 2007 - 10:14 PM By Mike Snyder PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MIAMI (Ticker) - The San Francisco Giants didn't need Barry Bonds to pick up a victory. The Florida Marlins beat themselves.

Noah Lowry hurled 5 1/3 effective innings and the Giants scored three runs on two errors in the seventh inning en route to a 6-5 victory over the Marlins in the third contest of a four-game set on Sunday afternoon.

Ray Durham drove in two runs for San Francisco, which has won a season-high four straight road games. The Giants did it this time without Bonds, who ripped his 760th career home run on Saturday night.

"In this game, part of it is getting breaks and a little luck," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "The last couple (of) games, it's gone our way."

With the game tied, 3-3, in the seventh, the Marlins imploded. Guillermo Rodriguez reached on an error to start the frame and Ryan Klesko followed with a single.

Marlins pitcher Lee Gardner (3-4) then fielded Rajai Davis's ground ball and threw wildly past first, allowing Rodriguez to score and sending Klesko to third. Right fielder Cody Ross made things worse, throwing the ball away to plate Klesko.

"It got away from (Marlins second baseman Dan) Uggla, and I was in the right position and I was where I was supposed to be and (Florida center fielder) Alejandro De Aza was where he was supposed to be," Ross said of his error. "It was a tough play because he was running in, and I was throwing the ball. It just didn't look pretty, but everybody was in the right position."

Davis scored the final run of the frame when Daniel Ortmeier hit a sacrifice fly to make it 6-3.

Florida manager Fredi Gonzalez was not around to see it, though, after he was ejected between the fourth and fifth innings for arguing with umpire Tim McClelland. It was the third time the rookie manager has been tossed this season.

"That's probably one of the worst innings we've ever had defensively," Gonzalez said. "It wasn't pretty watching it on TV. It just snowballed. We just didn't handle the ball good."

Lowry allowed three runs and five hits while striking out three and walking five but he appeared to tire in the heat and humidity in the sixth.

However, the lefthander disagreed.

"I felt like I was cutting the ball off and fighting against myself," Lowry said of the sixth. "When that happens (every pitch) is up in the zone. ... (The heat) wasn't too bad today. I've pitched here when it's been worse so the heat didn't play into anything."

Vinnie Chulk (5-4) came on in relief of Lowry with one out in the sixth who easily recorded the last two outs of the inning. Four relievers then tossed the final three frames, including Brad Hennessey, who tossed a perfect ninth for his 12th save.

"The bullpen came in and closed the door," Lowry said. "It was upsetting for me to give up that three-run lead but our guys showed a lot of heart and came back."

Kevin Frandsen and Ray Durham hit home runs to stake the Giants to a 3-0 lead.

Miguel Cabrera knocked in a pair of runs with a double to left field, and Josh Willingham followed with a run-scoring double to cap a three-run fifth for Florida.

Marlins starter Dontrelle Willis pitched six innings, allowing three runs and seven hits while striking out three and walking one. He departed after throwing 116 pitches.

"It was probably the toughest (loss)," Willis said. "We were right there in the end."

Willingham homered and had three RBI for the Marlins, who left 14 runners on base.

"We just couldn't get the big hit in the end," said Willingham, who lined out with the bases loaded in the eighth.