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Badenhop, Cantu come up big as Marlins top Brewers

May 8, 2008 - 3:24 AM By Christopher Stock PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MIAMI (Ticker) - Jorge Cantu and Dan Uggla hit back-to-back home runs and rookie Burke Badenhop picked up his first career win as the Florida Marlins defeated the Milwaukee Brewers, 6-2, on Wednesday.

Badenhop (1-2), who was acquired in the offseason deal that sent Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis to Detroit, allowed two runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings, with a career-high seven strikeouts and one walk.

Badenhop retired the first 11 batters he faced before allowing a single to Ryan Braun in the fourth inning.

"It feels pretty good to finally contribute to a team that's winning a lot as opposed to just eating up innings," Badenhop said. "It's nice to finally contribute and be able to give those fist pounds after a game we win that I pitch."

"I thought he was terrific," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "He had the good sinker working early, got ahead of the counts and made those guys swing the bats."

Mike Jacobs hit a two-run double in the three-run third inning, but left the game with a tight left quadriceps after rounding first base on the play.

"I'm 50-50 right now," Jacobs said. "I'll wait to see how it feels in the morning. There's no reason to play Thursday if it's tight and it's going to cost me seven or eight games."

Badenhop carried a 3-0 lead in the sixth, but Rickie Weeks gave the Brewers' lifeless offense a jolt as he blasted a two-run homer to left-center field. Weeks' homer snapped Milwaukee's 22-inning scoreless streak.

"I had Weeks 2-1 and threw a decent pitch, but obviously he deposited it in left field pretty far," Badenhop said.

Badenhop left after walking Corey Hart to put runners on first and second. Doug Waechter came on and struck out Bill Hall to end the threat.

The Marlins then made the Brewers pay for not capitalizing on the opportunity.

Cantu and Uggla went back-to-back off off Brewers starter Dave Bush (0-4) in the sixth inning to give the Marlins a 6-2 edge. Cantu hit a two-run homer and Uggla followed with a solo shot - his eighth of the season.

"Once Cantu hit that homer it really started to put the nail in the coffin and mine was just a little add-on piece," Uggla said.

Waechter and Renyel Pinto combined to throw 3 1/3 scoreless innings in relief for the Marlins, who have won four of five.

Bush allowed six runs and five hits in six innings. The righthander struck out three and walked two.

The Brewers have lost five straight and six of seven.

"Nobody likes going through a losing streak at all," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "These guys don't like this. So there is a bit of frustration. I wouldn't say there's tension."