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Six Marlins combine to blank Diamondbacks, 2-0

Jul 12, 2010 - 12:01 AM By BOB BAUM AP Sports Writer

PHOENIX(AP) -- Finally, after two weeks, the Florida Marlins are going home - and they're going as winners.

Their often-maligned bullpen came on strong as manager Edwin Rodriguez used six pitchers in a 2-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday that wrapped up a marathon 13-game trip.

Jorge Cantu doubled in a run and Dan Uggla had an RBI single for the Marlins, who went 7-6 on a journey that began June 28 with a three-game series against the New York Mets in Gonzalez's native Puerto Rico.

"It was a very important win. We've got some momentum," said Gonzalez, who was managing at Triple-A New Orleans when he was called on to replace Fredi Gonzalez on June 23. "Although we've got the (All-Star) break, the spirit, the atmosphere of the clubhouse is different."

Burke Badenhop (1-5) threw just two pitches in relief of starter Alex Sanabia but got the victory. Leo Nunez threw the ninth for his 20th save in 25 opportunities.

Brian Sanches, who pitched two scoreless innings, did not begrudge the scorekeeper's decision to give Badenhop the victory.

"I won't say he didn't deserve it," Sanches said. "He came in with the bases loaded and got the double play."

Uggla was asked to describe the trip.

"Very long," he said. "We let a couple slip away but we're going in the right direction."

Arizona was 3-7 in a home stand that began with the firing of manager A.J. Hinch and the promotion of Kirk Gibson to interim manager.

"I am different. I'm making them aware of different things," Gibson said. "The pitching overall did a pretty good job. Hitting-wise we have been clear about where we want to see improvement and we want to see that more consistently. That is a work in progress for us. All in all you can't single out any specific area. You win or you lose.

"I would rather play a real crappy game and win. There is something to winning, there is something to becoming winners."

The Diamondbacks outhit Florida 8-5 but were stung by three double plays, one with the bases loaded, and stranded six runners. Barry Enright (1-2), in his third big-league start, allowed both runs in five innings.

"I was a little tentative at the beginning, especially in that fourth inning," Enright said. "I got behind some counts, didn't field my position with Ramirez's hit up the middle. I did pitch tentatively but all and all I didn't pitch bad in my eyes. I always said it is kind of a process, learning and I will come out stronger next time."

Relievers Jose Veras and Clay Hensley also were part of the Marlins' shutout.

Sanabia moved into the rotation in place of Chris Volstad, who was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans after going 1-6 with a 5.22 ERA in 11 starts since May 7.

The Marlins scored twice without an out in the fourth.

Hanley Ramirez singled off the glove of Enright, stole second and scored when Cantu doubled over the glove of Justin Upton in right field, the only extra-base hit of the game. Cantu took third when Kelly Johnson overthrew the catcher on the relay, then scored when Uggla singled.

Arizona had runners at first and third with no outs in the first when Chris Young walked and Johnson singled, but Upton and Miguel Montero popped out and Mark Reynolds struck out.

Chris Young, Arizona's lone All-Star, singled twice. The second came in the eighth, when he was out after Johnson's liner struck him in the right big toe. He said afterward he was fine.

Upton led off the ninth with a shot to left that would have been a double had he not slipped and fell rounding first base. He ended up getting stranded there.

Uggla went 2 for 4 and has hit safely in 10 of his last 12 games, hitting .435 (20 of 46) in that span. Many of them have been singles, but that is fine with the Marlins' slugger.

"You take hits and RBIs when you can get them," Uggla said. "It doesn't matter if they're by singles, walks, home runs, doubles, triples. Any time you can get runs across is a huge positive."

Notes: The Marlins face Washington rookie sensation Stephen Strasburg in their first game after the break Friday night in Miami. ... Before Sanabia's start Sunday, Florida was the last NL team to go with five starters all season. ... The Marlins hit into two double plays. ... Reynolds has 20 home runs and has 56 RBIs but is hitting just .214. He struck out three times to increase his major league-leading total to 122 and is on pace to threaten the major league record of 223 he set last year. ... Florida is 10 games behind NL East leader Atlanta.