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Marlins' Nolasco earns record-setting win

May 23, 2012 - 6:21 AM Miami, FL (Sports Network) - With a little help from his bat, the third time was a charm for Miami's Ricky Nolasco.

Coming off back-to-back losses, Nolasco smacked a two-run double and finally secured sole possession of the Marlins' all-time record for wins as Miami downed the Colorado Rockies, 7-6, in the middle test of a three-game set.

The 29-year-old right-hander picked up career victory No. 68 back on May 6 to move into a tie for the Marlins' franchise lead with Dontrelle Willis. But he had been battered around in two starts since, allowing 10 runs in only 8 2/3 innings.

On Tuesday, Nolasco (5-2) surrendered three first-inning runs on four hits, but settled down and allowed just one more run on four hits over the next five frames. He fanned six and walked one for Miami, which tied the club record with its 16th win in May.

"I think Nolasco was a little bit unlucky today," said Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen. "They put the ball in play and didn't hit it that hard but it still counts as a hit."

Hanley Ramirez had three hits, drove in two and scored a run, while Mike Stanton added a pair of hits and registered an RBI and run scored for the Marlins, who

Juan Nicasio (2-2) struck out six and was charged with six runs -- five earned -- on nine hits and three walks in five innings for the Rockies, who have dropped six straight and 10-of-12.

"We had chances," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. "They're playing hard, but it gets a little demoralizing."

The Rockies trailed 7-4 in the eighth inning, but didn't go down quietly. They scored twice in the frame on Wilin Rosario's RBI single and John Beck's throwing error as he attempted to pick off Michael Cuddyer at third, which made it 7-6.

With Rosario on third with one out, Ryan Webb replaced Randy Choate on the mound and struck out pinch-hitter Eric Young Jr before Marco Scutaro, who was 0-for-17 with runners in scoring position and two outs coming in, lined out to a leaping Chris Coghlan in left.

Heath Bell came on in the ninth and immediately gave up a double to Jordan Pachecho, who moved to third on Carlos Gonzalez's groundout to second. But Troy Tulowitzki popped out to shortstop and Todd Helton struck out looking to end the game, allowing Bell to record his seventh save of the year.

For the second consecutive game the Marlins had to dig out of an early hole. After they spotted Colorado four runs in the top half of the opening frame on Monday, the Rockies pushed across three in the first on Tuesday.

Consecutive run-scoring singles by Helton and Cuddyer followed by Rosario's sacrifice fly to center made it 3-0.

The Marlins, though, responded and plated a pair in their half of the frame, three more in the third and another in the fourth.

Bryan Petersen laced an RBI triple down the right-field line and Ramirez slapped a run-scoring single up the middle, which cut the deficit to 3-2 after an inning of play.

In the third. Austin Kearns singled and scored when Stanton cracked a double to center. Two batters later with two away, the Rockies intentionally walked Donnie Murphy, which brought up Nolasco. But Nolasco made them pay and drilled a two-run double into the gap in left-center for a 5-3 Marlins edge.

Coghlan's bloop RBI single made it 6-3 after four innings before Tulowitzki's run-scoring base hit cut the deficit to 6-4 in the fifth. Miami added another run in the sixth frame on Ramirez's RBI single to left.

Game Notes

Kearns left the game with a tight right hamstring and is listed as day-to- day...Colorado was 4-for-18 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base...Miami was 4-for-17 with runners in scoring position and left 13 runners on base...The Marlins' franchise record for most wins in a month is 19, accomplished in August of 1997.