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Nolasco wins first by Marlins starter in 3 weeks

May 9, 2009 - 5:53 AM DENVER(AP) -- Ricky Nolasco got the Florida Marlins' starting pitchers back into the win column.

Settling down after a shaky beginning, Nolasco earned the first win by a Florida starter in more than three weeks, leading the Marlins to an 8-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Friday night.

The Marlins went a club-record 20 games without a win by a starting pitcher before Nolasco (2-3) scattered eight hits over six innings with five strikeouts and a walk in his first victory since opening day. He allowed three runs to become the first Marlins starter to earn a victory since April 16 when Anibal Sanchez beat Atlanta.

During that span, Florida's starters had gone 0-8 with a 5.48 ERA.

"Nobody wants to be recognized for something like that," Nolasco said. "To come in here and throw the ball pretty decent, we'll try to build off this. I'm not extremely satisfied, but this is a start."

Nolasco got plenty of support from Hanley Ramirez, who drove in two runs with his first four-hit game of the season, including his third homer in two games. John Baker went 2-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs.

Baker said the team took heart both from its offensive showing and the end of the rotation's run of frustration.

"It's nice we don't have to hear about that anymore," Baker said. "But it's funny, because I know we had 20 games last year where our starting pitcher didn't get the win and it's just kind of bizarre when it happens all in a row like that. I think what it really means is that we're going to have some starting pitchers start to get wins, so it was really nice to see (Nolasco) make adjustments and apply them and be successful throughout six innings. It was a big outing for him and for our team."

Jason Hammel (0-1) allowed six runs on eight hits in 4 1-3 innings in his third start since moving from the bullpen in place of injured starter Franklin Morales.

The Marlins broke the game open with a five-run fifth during which they sent 10 men to the plate and collected seven of their 16 hits, including two-run singles by Baker and Jeremy Hermida.

Jorge Cantu began the burst with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to snap a 3-3 tie and chase Hammel.

"I got up in the zone in the fifth and got lit up," Hammel said. "I had too many hittable pitches. I gave up a lot of hits on fastballs. Both of the home runs were on fastballs above the belt."

Ramirez hit a solo homer in the first for his sixth of the season. He added an RBI single in the third after Baker led off the second with his third homer.

Troy Tulowitzki homered in the first on Nolasco's first pitch, and then had an RBI double in the third. Brad Hawpe also hit a run-scoring doubles.

The loss dropped the Rockies (11-17) to a season-low six games below .500 for the second time this season. They were also six games under on April 25, following a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Marlins snapped a three-game skid in winning for the second time in their last eight games.

Notes: Slumping leadoff batter Dexter Fowler, who has as many strikeouts as hits (22), was given the night off. "Time to sit back and take a look at things," Colorado Manager Clint Hurdle said. ... Helton singled in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to 11 games, the longest by a Rockies player this season. ... Chris Coghlan made his major league debut for the Marlins after being recalled from Triple-A New Orleans to fill the roster spot of pitcher Anibal Sanchez, who went on the 15-day disabled list with a right shoulder sprain. Coghlan singled to center in the fifth for his first big league hit. ... Nolasco singled twice to record his third career multihit game. ... The Marlins' bullpen has combined to pitch 15 consecutive scoreless innings over its last four games. ... Florida's 16 hits were a season high.