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With McKeon back in the dugout, Marlins drop 11th straight

Jun 21, 2011 - 5:55 AM Miami, FL (Sports Network) - It doesn't seem to matter who manages Florida this month. A rainy Monday night in Miami with an old skipper on the bench resulted in yet another June loss for the Marlins.

Torii Hunter's RBI groundout in the eighth inning proved to be the difference, as the Angels won 2-1 to send Florida to its 11th straight defeat.

The floundering Marlins are now 1-19 in the month of June.

The past few days have been a bit crazy for the Marlins. Former manager Edwin Rodriguez called it quits Sunday morning, leading to bench coach Brandon Hyde taking over for Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Rays. And before this three-game series with Los Angeles, Florida announced that Jack McKeon would be the club's interim manager for the rest of the season.

The move was not a surprise. McKeon led the Marlins to the 2003 World Series title in his first go-round as skipper from 2003-05. The Marlins had winning records in each of McKeon's three seasons at the helm.

At age 80, McKeon is the second-oldest manager ever in Major League Baseball history. Only Connie Mack was older at 87 when he skippered the team he owned -- the Philadelphia Athletics -- in his last season of 1950.

"Some of these guys performed so well early in the season, and now that we're in a rut, they tend to try to do too much and play outside themselves," McKeon said. "They all want to help end this thing instead of doing the best you can and relax. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. They'll be fine. We've been through it before."

Hunter, who drove in two runs, and Jered Weaver were the cause for Florida's loss on Monday. Weaver (9-4) gave up one run on five hits over seven innings to pick up the win. He also struck out six and walked one.

DeWayne Wise knocked in the lone run of the game for the Marlins, who lost despite seven strong innings from Anibal Sanchez. The right-hander gave up one run on eight hits to go along with eight strikeouts.

Following a rain delay that lasted almost two hours, Florida took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Jose Lopez and John Buck singled around an Omar Infante fly out to put men on the corners. Wise's sacrifice fly to right put the Marlins on the board.

The Marlins had a chance to extend their lead in the fifth, but Gaby Sanchez flied out with men on the corners and two outs.

The Angels tied the game in the sixth. Erick Aybar reached base on a bunt single, moved to second on a balk, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on Hunter's base hit to center.

LA scored a run off Steve Cishek (0-1) in the eighth to go in front. Maicer Izturis and Aybar hit consecutive one-out singles. Aybar then stole second to put men on second and third. Hunter's slow grounder to third allowed Izturis to score for a 2-1 edge.

Florida's month of June was summarized by one play in the home eighth. With none on and two outs, Gaby Sanchez lined a ball down the first-base line. The ball managed to deflect off the base and right to first baseman Mark Trumbo, who stepped on the bag for the final out.

"I've been in that situation," Hunter said. "You have to go back to the basics, play small ball -- hit-and-run, move runners. Don't try to do too much."

Jordan Walden tossed a scoreless ninth for his 17th save of the season.

Game Notes

The Angels and Marlins are meeting for the first time since Anaheim took two of three matchups at home back in 2005. The Angels did the same in 2003 as the visiting club...McKeon also managed Kansas City (1973-75), Oakland (1977-78), San Diego (1988-90) and Cincinnati (1997-2000)...Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez wasn't in the starting lineup, but came on as a pinch-hitter in the ninth. He arrived late to the clubhouse Monday for a team meeting...The Marlins placed outfielder Chris Coghlan on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 17, with left knee inflammation. In corresponding roster moves, Florida optioned outfielder Brad Davis to Triple-A New Orleans, recalled pitcher Jose Ceda from the same club, and optioned pitcher Brad Hand to Single-A Jupiter of the Florida State League...The Angels optioned shortstop Andrew Romine to Triple-A Salt Lake and recalled pitcher Michael Kohn from the same club...The Angels have the best interleague road mark of all-time (73-55)...Cishek suffered his first loss in the big leagues.