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Olsen dominates as Marlins blank Brewers

May 7, 2008 - 3:24 AM By Christopher Stock PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MIAMI (Ticker) -- Scott Olsen was one out away from a complete-game shutout Tuesday as the Florida Marlins took the opener of a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers with a 3-0 victory.

Mike Jacobs hit a two-run homer and Luis Gonzalez tied a career high with four hits for the Marlins, who have now won three of their last four contests.

Olsen (4-1) threw a career-high 8 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and four walks. He struck out eight - the most for a Marlins pitcher this season - over his 121-pitch outing.

"I didn't even really think about the complete game until after the eighth inning," Olsen said. "I knew I had a lot of pitches but when nobody came to talk to me, I knew I was going back out there."

"He battled and he wanted the shutout, but there comes a point to the game where his pitch count was up around 120 and we got him out of there," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

The 24-year-old lefthander is now 2-1 with a 1.83 ERA in five career starts against the Brewers. He tossed 7 1/3 scoreless frames in a 3-0 triumph on April 25, the only other time Milwaukee was shut out this season.

"I did the same thing I did last time against them, stayed down and threw a lot of off-speed pitches when I was behind in the count and quality off-speed pitches down by the knees and trying to let them beat it into the ground," Olsen said.

Gonzalez let Olsen come back out for the ninth inning, and he gave up a leadoff walk to Rickie Weeks. Mike Cameron flew out to right and Ryan Braun popped out to first before Prince Fielder singled to right.

Olsen then walked Joe Dillon to load the bases, ending his career night. Closer Kevin Gregg came in to get Bill Hall to fly out on one pitch for his sixth save of the season.

"Of course there was added pressure because you don't want those runs to score and that's your job as a reliever, to make sure the outing stayed as good as it looked," Gregg said.

Luis Gonzalez opened the scoring with an RBI single in the second to score Dan Uggla, who reached on a double. Jacobs extended the advantage to 3-0 in the third with this ninth home run of the season - a two-run blast to center field off Brewers starter Jeff Suppan (1-2).

"I was just looking for something out over the plate and I hit it well, but I didn't think it was going to go," Jacobs said. "It was a big part of the spark."

Suppan allowed three runs and eight hits with three walks and five strikeouts over five innings.

Milwaukee manager Ned Yost was ejected by home plate umpire Eric Cooper for arguing balls and strikes in the fourth after Cameron struck out.

"There was a couple of pitches that were borderline and I thought some, kind of, went against us," Yost said. "He gave me an opportunity to shut up and I didn't take it. I just didn't feel like he needed any help tonight."