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Nolasco leads Marlins past Diamondbacks

Jun 28, 2008 - 3:02 AM By Christopher Stock PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MIAMI (Ticker) -- Ricky Nolasco threw eight sharp innings as the Florida Marlins defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks, 3-1, on Friday.

Cody Ross hit his 13th home run of the season and Jorge Cantu smacked a two-run double for the Marlins, who snapped a four-game losing streak.

Nolasco (8-4) allowed one run and four hits while striking out nine. He threw 86 of his 120 pitches for strikes and is 3-0 in three career starts against the Diamondbacks.

"I found a little groove and tried to pitch ahead as much as possible to put the pressure on the them," Nolasco said. "I had a good fastball, cutter, and curve ball. I commanded my fastball on both sides of the plate, which opened up everything else."

In his last four starts, Nolasco is 3-0 with 1.82 ERA. The righthander has struck out 27 and walked four in 29 2/3 innings during that span.

"I feel confident," Nolasco said. "It all starts with the fastball command. All of my pitches are working right now."

Kevin Gregg pitched a perfect ninth to record his 14th save.

Hanley Ramirez and Jeremy Hermida hit back-to-back singles in the third inning before Cantu drove them home with a double to give the Marlins a 2-1 lead.

"It's all coming back," said Cantu, who had two sub-par seasons after a breakout 2005 campaign. "It's about getting my repetitions and getting that confidence back."

Cantu is batting .279 with 14 home runs and 45 RBI in 77 games.

"He's been the most steady guy all year," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Ross hit a solo home run to left in the fourth.

Diamondbacks starter Micah Owings (6-7) allowed three runs and four hits while striking out six and walking two before exiting in the fifth inning with a right leg injury.

"I went to cover first and all of my momentum was carrying me that way and tried to wait on the throw," Owings said. "I took a stretch and it was the top half of my glut and my lower back just locked up on me. I tried to walk it off and felt it OK to go, but it just stiffened up on me."

Edgar Gonzalez, Leo Rosales and Chad Qualls combined to throw four shutout innings in relief.

Orlando Hudson hit a sacrifice fly in the first inning for the Diamondbacks, who have lost six of their last seven.

"Nolasco threw great," Hudson said. "He threw a lot of cutters and had control of it in the strike zone. He throws hard and he did a heck of job. He was on his 'A' game and we had our hands full."