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Miller sharp as Marlins shut out Diamondbacks

May 23, 2008 - 3:50 AM By Christopher Stock PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MIAMI (Ticker) -- Andrew Miller struck out a career-high nine batters as the Florida Marlins completed a three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 4-0 victory on Thursday.

Wes Helms drilled a pinch-hit two-run double and Jorge Cantu also drove in two runs for Florida, which swept Arizona for the first time since July 28-30, 2003.

The Marlins, who held the Diamondbacks to just three runs and 17 hits in the three-game set, remain atop the National League East Division with a 27-19 record.

"What can I say, we played excellent in these three games and hopefully we can continue to do that this weekend (against San Francisco)," Cantu said. "We have a good margin to keep ourselves in first place."

The Diamondbacks have dropped six straight on the road.

"It's going to happen," Diamondbacks second baseman Orlando Hudson said. "I don't care how good you are. You always goes through ups and downs throughout the season. We were riding the wave when it was high, getting big hits, big RBIs in key situations. Last few games we haven't been doing that. That's the way the game goes."

Miller (4-3), who turned 23 on Wednesday, yielded just five singles and a walk over seven innings to see his ERA drop from 6.18 to 5.33.

"(My confidence) has grown," said Miller, who has won three of his last four decisions. "I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't beating myself up at the beginning of the year when I was struggling real bad, but having a few good ones in a row is nice."

The lefthander, who also matched his career high in innings pitched, threw 64 of his 107 pitches for strikes.

"Andrew was spectacular," Helms said. "He showed the signs of why he was drafted No. 1."

with Florida leading, 1-0, and runners on the corners and one out in the seventh, Helms lined a fastball from Arizona starter Dan Haren (5-3) into the left field corner, plating Matt Treanor and Alfredo Almezaga for a three-run advantage.

"It's not easy (to pinch-hit), but it's my job and I've got to do it," Helms said. "I live for it. I love it and it's my role. It's a lot easier to pinch-hit in key situations than it is with nobody on."

Three batters later, Cantu, who drove in a run in the first on an RBI groundout, singled to left off Chad Qualls, scoring Helms to make it 4-0.

All four runs were charged to Haren, who also gave up eight hits while striking out eight in 6 1/3 frames.

"I was pitching real good until the very end there," Haren said. "Gave up a two-strike hit, then a little blooper and that was the game right there. Against Helms, I tried to get a little sinker in and it got a little too much plate and he put a pretty good swing on it."

Hudson and Augie Ojeda each had two hits for the Diamondbacks, who left nine men on base.