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Hermida hits grand slam, Marlins rally from six runs down for win

Jun 9, 2007 - 6:25 AM MIAMI (Ticker) -- For the second time this week, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. This time, it was the state nemesis Florida Marlins doing the honors.

After blowing a six-run lead against Toronto earlier in the week, the Devil Rays saw another six-run lead evaporate in a 14-8 loss to the Marlins in the opener of a three-game series at Dolphin Stadium on Friday.

Florida, coming off a 7-4 road trip, struck for 12 runs over a three-inning span, highlighted by Jeremy Hermida's second career grand slam in the fifth and a bases-clearing triple by Josh Willingham in the seventh as the Marlins unleashed an 15-hit barrage on six Tampa Bay pitchers.

"It was definitely not a normal game," Hermida said. "But these types of games come along every now and then and you just have to battle through them and never give up. It doesn't matter what the score is after four innings, it's what it is after nine innings that matters."

The Devil Rays, who had lost 12 of their last 17 games against the Marlins, broke out quickly after a nearly 1 hour, 30-minute rain delay at the outset with a show of force against Florida starter Byung-Hyun Kim.

Carl Crawford was hit by a pitch, stole second and advanced to third on an errant throw from catcher Matt Treanor. Ty Wigginton then scored Crawford with a double.

Carlos Pena walked and scored along with Wigginton when Delmon Young's single was misplayed by center fielder Reggie Abercrombie. Young advanced to second on the throw to the plate. Brendan Harris then doubled home Young for a 4-0 advantage.

"It's very frustrating," Tampa Bay Manager Joe Maddon said. "Again, we come out and we continued to swing the bats well and we get a big lead and we give it up again. That's just unacceptable.

Florida loaded the bases with one out in its half of the first, but Tampa Bay starter J.P. Howell struck out Willingham and Hermida to end the threat.

Howell finished with a career-high nine strikeouts but allowed six runs and eight hits in five innings. Brian Stokes (2-6) relieved Howell and took the loss, allowing three runs and three hits in two-thirds of an inning.

"It was good that we were able to come back because it looked like they had us by the throat," Willingham said. "Howell kind of stymied us there for awhile, but fortunately we were able to wear him down a little and then we got to their bullpen and were able to do some damage."

The Marlins again found themselves in a bases-loaded situation in the second inning, and this time they didn't come away empty.

Dan Uggla's two-run single to right-center scored Aaron Boone and Treanor, who walked and singled respectively to start the inning. Hanley Ramirez's infield single reloaded the bases, but Miguel Cabrera grounded into a double play. Although they cut the lead in half, the Marlins stranded six batters in the first two innings.

Tampa Bay made Florida pay even more for that lack of production as it extended the margin to 7-2 in the third inning on a two-run single by Harris and an RBI single to center by Howell.

Kim was then relieved by Renyel Pinto, who retired Crawford on a fielder's choice to end the third. Kim failed to win his third straight decision and lasted just 2 2/3 innings, allowing a season-high seven runs - six earned - and seven hits. Kim had allowed three runs to Tampa Bay the last time he faced them.

Winning pitcher Justin Miller(2-0) took the mound for Florida with the bases loaded and no outs in the sixth inning, but retired all three batters he faced to keep the Marlins within striking distance.

Florida rallied all the way back from an 8-2 deficit in the sixth via back-to-back RBI hits by Ramirez and Cabrera, who ripped a double to the left field wall, and a go-ahead bases-loaded walk to Boone which provided a 9-8 edge.

"These guys just kept battling and battling; that's what it takes sometimes," Gonzalez said. "The games aren't always pretty but at the end of the day it how they turn out for you. Today it turned out well."

In yet another in a string of bases-loaded situations by both clubs, it was Tampa Bay's turn to fill them in the seventh. This time Tankersley came through by getting carlos Pena to fly out to right.

Tampa Bay's night went from bad to worse when catcher Dioner Navarro suffered a throat injury in the bottom of the sixth inning. He was attended to by paramedics and taken off the field in a stretcher. It was the second significant injury of the night for the Devil Rays, who lost center fielder B.J. Upton to a left quad strain while legging out a grounder in the first inning.