• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Uggla, Ross lift Marlins past Cardinals

Sep 6, 2008 - 4:51 AM By Thad Kemlage PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- Dan Uggla and Cody Ross sparked a three-run rally in the 11th inning to propel the Florida Marlins to consecutive victories for the first time since July as they defeated the St. Louis Cardinals, 4-1, on Friday.

Uggla snapped a 1-1 tie with two outs by singling to drive in Hanley Ramirez on an 0-2 count. The Marlins added two more insurance runs on Ross' base hit to extend the advantage to 4-1.

"(Jason Motte) has a big-time arm and I saw the first two and I thought, 'If he throws another one anywhere near the zone, I'm going to take a hack at it,'" Uggla said. "Luckily, it found a hole."

Matt Lindstrom then picked up his first save, pitching a scoreless 11th.

"We're just going to move on from this victory and see if we can put a string together now," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

The Cardinals' bullpen woes continued as Ryan Franklin (5-6, 3.90) took the loss, bringing the total games lost by the bullpen to a league-high 30.

Mike Jacobs hit his 29th homer to tie the game 1-1 in the ninth to force extra innings. Jacobs' homer came off rookie Chris Perez, who blew his second straight save opportunity.

"I felt like I hit that ball a lot better, but luckily it got out," Jacobs said.

St. Louis has blown 30 saves, which leads the league.

"The last two times I've gone out there we've had the lead and when I've left we haven't," Perez said. "Part of being a closer is coming back and hopefully tomorrow night, I'll get my name called again."

Adam Kennedy drove in Albert Pujols for the Cardinals' long run in the seventh off starter Ricky Nolasco.

Nolasco pitched brilliantly in a no-decision, going seven innings and giving up one run on six hits with no walks.

"I can't complain," Nolasco said. "I tried to pitch ahead and get them to make early contact and this is a good hitting team so you don't want to fall behind these guys."

St. Louis starter Braden Looper's excellent performance was wasted. He tossed 7 1/3 scoreless frames, allowing four hits with no walks and six strikeouts.

"All I can keep doing is going out there and keep throwing as many zeroes as I can and the rest will take care of itself," Looper said.