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Six-run second helps Marlins topple Rockies

Aug 1, 2008 - 4:03 AM By Christopher Stock PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MIAMI (Ticker) -- Anibal Sanchez made a successful return to the mound and Hanley Ramirez and Jorge Cantu hit solo home runs as the Florida Marlins recorded a 12-2 rout of the Colorado Rockies on Thursday.

Ramirez, All-Star Dan Uggla, Jeremy Hermida and John Baker each drove in a pair of runs for the Marlins, who have won three of their last four.

Sanchez made his first start since May 2, 2007, after having shoulder surgery. The 24-year-old was extremely effective, allowing two runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings while striking out four and walking two.

"Sanchez was outstanding," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "The first time out, he was real good. He threw strikes and kept his composure. Now, hopefully he'll build from that."

The right-handed Sanchez, who threw a no-hitter as a rookie in 2006 and is 13-4 in his career, provides a boost in the starting rotation for the Marlins, who are in the National League East Division race.

"I feel real strong right now," Sanchez said. "I am going to help this team every time I'm on the mound. I feel like in 2006, I'm healthy."

Florida (58-51) stayed within 1 1/2 games of the division-leading Philadelphia Phillies (59-49), who also won on Thursday to complete a sweep of the Washington Nationals. The second-place New York Mets (58-50) were idle.

Cantu hit a solo home run - his 19th - in the first inning to give the Marlins the early lead.

Florida scored six runs in the second inning against Jorge De La Rosa (5-6), who walked four batters, hit another, and gave up three hits as 11 batters went to the plate.

"When De La Rosa goes bad, he gets a little bit wild and we knew that going into it so we were trying to be patient in the beginning," Hermida said. "He's got four quality pitches, he just wasn't able to command them."

With the Marlins leading, 2-0, in the second after Ramirez drew a bases-loaded walk, Hermida delivered a two-run single. Josh Willingham also drew a bases-loaded walk and Uggla added a two run-double to give the Marlins a 7-0 advantage.

"You need all the runs you can get," Hermida said. "You look back at that series when we were in Colorado, you can't take these guys lightly with the lineup that they have."

De La Rosa, who had won three of his last four decisions, surrendered seven runs and five hits in 1 2/3 innings.

"Everything went wrong," De La Rosa said. "I don't know what happened. Breaking ball was working good, but when you don't have good command of your fastball, you can't make outs."

Baker added to the Marlins' lead in the fourth with a two-run single and Ramirez hit his 25th homer in the sixth. Wes Helms capped off the scoring with an RBI single in the eighth.

Ian Stewart and Omar Quintanilla had RBI singles for the Rockies.