• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Five-run eighth fuels Marlins past Mets

Jul 29, 2008 - 3:56 AM By Christopher Stock PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MIAMI (Ticker) - Cody Ross delivered a go-ahead RBI single and Robert Andino hit a two-run double in the bottom of the eighth as the Florida Marlins pulled within one game of the National League East Division lead with a 7-3 triumph over the New York Mets on Monday.

The win gives the Marlins 31 come-from-behind victories this season, most in the National League.

"I've been saying it for a long time, but we are not going to give up until they say the game is over," Ross said. "It's a little nerve-wracking at times, but we don't ever give up."

Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco pitched six solid innings, surrendering two runs and seven hits while striking out eight without issuing a walk. Doug Waechter (3-2) picked up the win in relief.

"This game was huge," Nolasco said. "I can't stress how big the game was."

Josh Willingham started the eighth-inning rally with a double to left-center field off reliever Joe Smith (1-3). All-Star Dan Uggla drove home Willingham with a single up the middle to tie the game at 3-3.

"I missed my spot on Willingham and he found a hole, that was just a bad pitch," Smith said. "Against Uggla, I fell behind and it's hard to pitch when you fall behind especially when you're missing your spots."

Scott Schoeneweis relieved Smith and allowed a pinch-hit single to Wes Helms, advancing Uggla to third. Ross drove in Uggla with a base hit to right field and John Baker followed with a bunt that rolled past Schoeneweis and loaded the bases with nobody out.

After Alfredo Amezega and Hanley Ramirez were retired, Helms scored on a wild pitch and Andino drove a pinch-hit, two-run double to left-center field to put the Marlins ahead, 7-3.

The Mets took a 3-2 lead in the top of the eighth inning when David Wright led off the inning with a single off of Waechter. With an infield shift on, Carlos Delgado hit a ground ball to first baseman Mike Jacobs, who looked at second, but threw to first to get Delgado out. An alert Wright advanced to third on the play when the left side of the infield was left vacant.

"It was kind of a screwed up play and we may not see that play again," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

After Waechter issued an intentional walk to Carlos Beltran, Fernando Tatis bounced into what appeared to be an inning-ending double play - but Uggla's throw to first sailed wide and allowed Wright to score the go-ahead run.

The Mets started the scoring in the second inning when Tatis hit an RBI triple and Damion Easley followed with a run-scoring single to give the Mets a 2-0 advantage.

John Baker hit a solo home run off Mets starter John Maine in the fifth inning to cut the deficit to 2-1. It was his third homer of the season.

"Maybe these guys are rubbing off on me, I've never been a big power hitter in my career," Baker said. "Watching these guys hitting balls out of the ballpark, I figured I should try that too."

New York manager Jerry Manuel and a trainer came out to visit Maine immediately prior to the home run because of an issue with his right arm, but Maine insisted he stay in the game. Nolasco followed with a fly out to right, but Maine's night ended when Manuel pulled his starter because of stiffness in his pitching shoulder.

"Before the inning, he had mentioned he was feeling a little stiff and sometimes it can be stuff that you can get through," Manuel said. "He threw a couple of pitches and he tells me to let him finish the inning. But, when I returned to the dugout and talked with the pitching coach (Dan Warthen) who has a very keen eye on mechanics and fundamentals and he didn't like what he saw and I didn't like what I saw. So to be on the safe side, I got him out."

Maine pitched 4 1/3 innings allowing one run, four hits and one walk. He struck out six.

"You always get soreness, but in the last week it's been bothering me a little bit," Maine said. "I went out there and pitched, felt I could pitch, and was doing OK. It's not a bad decision, they are trying to protect me, so I agree with that."

Kevin Gregg pitched a perfect ninth to preserve the win for the Marlins (56-50), who now sit just one game behind the division-leading Mets (57-49).

"That's a team that is where they are because they expect to win," Wright said. "They have confidence, swagger, and they think they can play with anybody and rightfully so."