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Jacobs' grand slam powers Marlins

Apr 6, 2008 - 4:02 AM By Christopher Stock PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MIAMI (Ticker) -- Mike Jacobs hit a grand slam to help give the Florida Marlins a 7-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night.

Jacobs, who hit a walk-off homer on Friday night, delivered the crushing blow on the first pitch from starter Paul Maholm, breaking a 1-1 tie in the fifth inning.

The 417-foot shot to right-center field was Jacobs' first career grand slam.

"I'm always up there in the league in guys that swing at the first pitch because it is their job to get ahead," Jacobs said. "If they are trying to get ahead they are going to be somewhere right around the plate, so why not swing at it?"

Lefthander Mark Hendrickson (1-1) picked up the win for the Marlins, pitching 5 1/3 solid innings and allowing three runs - one earned. He struck out four and walked three.

Matt Treanor reached base on an infield single with one out in the fifth. After Hendrickson struck out, Hanley Ramirez was hit by a pitch and Dan Uggla walked to load the bases for Jacobs.

"Jacobs is swinging the bat, he got hot," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "Big at-bat there."

The grand slam ruined what had been a strong outing for Maholm, who struck out a career-high nine batters in five innings. Maholm (0-1) allowed five runs and five hits and walked one.

"It was the pitch I wanted," Maholm said of the slider. "It was the pitch I thought I could get him out with. He guesses, and goes out and gets it."

Chris Gomez's two-run single in the sixth pulled the Pirates within 5-3, but the Marlins responded in the when Brett Carroll hit an RBI triple and scored on a squeeze bunt executed by Treanor.

"Offensively for me, it was a redeeming play for the night," Treanor said. "I'm struggling a little bit at the plate right now."

Ramirez hit a leadoff home run for his first homer of the season. The 24-year old shortstop has hit 16 leadoff home runs in his career, the most in franchise history. It was Ramirez's first leadoff blast since September 11, 2007, against the Washington Nationals.

Nate McLouth had two hits and a stolen base for the Pirates.