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Padres score 13 over first two innings, rout Marlins

Jul 21, 2011 - 3:18 AM Miami, FL (Sports Network) - The San Diego Padres have a losing record in July despite owning the majors' best ERA during the month.

Apparently their hitters got the memo.

The Padres batted around in each of the first two innings and collected 20 hits while hammering Ricky Nolasco and the Florida Marlins, 14-3, Wednesday night at Sun Life Stadium.

Ryan Ludwick and rookie Jesus Guzman drove in four runs each, and the Padres backed right-hander Aaron Harang (8-2) with a season-high run total. Every starter had at least one hit, including Guzman, Jason Bartlett, Rob Johnson and former Marlin Cameron Maybin with three each.

The veteran Ludwick is the subject of trade rumors. No matter if he goes, Guzman is staying, as the Padres are enjoying the production of the 27-year- old rookie first baseman. He has four RBI in a game twice in the last four contests.

The Padres have won the first two games in the three-game series against the Marlins, but are only 6-10 in July. This despite their pitching staff's 2.50 ERA this month.

But the Padres offense made quick work of Nolasco (6-7), who lasted only 1 1/3 innings - the shorting outing of his career - while surrendering nine earned runs on nine hits and two walks. He struck out three, but recorded outs against only four of 15 batters.

"It's one of those things that happens," Marlins manager Jack McKeon said. "Here's one of your better pitchers out there, can't get anybody out. Relievers come in and they can't get anybody out."

Meanwhile, Harang coasted in the 250th start of his 10-year career. The right-hander, who has won four straight decisions, surrendered seven hits and three runs over 5 1/3 innings while evening his career record at 89-89. He's won four straight decisions and is unbeaten over his last 10 starts, last losing May 2 to the Pirates.

One of the hits - a single to open the bottom of the fifth - belonged to Marlins third baseman Emilio Bonifacio, who extended his career-best hitting streak to 19 games.

San Diego banged out 13 runs and 14 hits in its first two at-bats, making the score look like an early update from a Chargers-Dolphins game.

Nolasco had pitched at least six innings and given up three earned runs or fewer in his previous five starts, but he never got into a groove.

The Padres jumped to a 1-0 lead when Will Venable led off the game with a home run to right field - his third of the season.

Ludwick doubled in Barlett and Maybin, then scored one out later on Guzman's single to make it 4-0.

The Padres scored nine times in the second inning. Maybin's RBI single pushed the lead to 5-0. With one out, Guzman cleared the bases with a double to the left-field corner to make it 8-0.

Burke Badenhop relieved Nolasco, but he allowed the next five batters to reach safely. Alberto Gonzalez doubled in a run, and Harang and Barlett both collected RBI singles. Ludwick's two-run single pushed the lead to 13-0, although Bartlett was tagged out at third base on the play to end the inning.

"That's like being shut out three or four times in a row and all of a sudden unload against somebody," McKeon said. "That's why I hate to see anybody come in that's not winning or (having) a bad losing streak. Something is always going to change."

In the fourth, Mike Stanton singled in Logan Morrison for Florida's first run.

Hanley Ramirez hit a solo home run to lead off the sixth for his season's 10th round-tripper. Pinch-hitter DeWayne Wise then doubled in Stanton, pulling the Marlins within 13-3 and chasing Harang.

The Padres had 13 runs against the Milwaukee Brewers on May 11, but they surpassed it for their season high when Maybin singled in Bartlett off Michael Dunn in the seventh.

Game Notes

The Padres fell short of their season high for hits, which was 23 in the May 11 win over Milwaukee...Bartlett was back in the lineup after the Padres reinstated him from paternity leave. He and his wife Kelly welcomed their second son, Jagger, on Sunday. To make room for Bartlett, the Padres optioned infielder Evereth Cabrera to Triple-A Tucson...Both teams have better road records than home records ...Marlins first baseman Gaby Sanchez was 3-for-4 with a walk...The two teams wrap up their three-game series at 12:10 p.m. ET Thursday, a matchup of righties Dustin Moseley (2-9) and Javier Vazquez (6-8).