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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
MIAMI (AP) -- Ryan Dempster won his fourth straight start with
some offense from Brant Brown and some defense from Cliff Floyd.
Brown hit a two-run homer to keep Dempster unbeaten since April
15 and lead the Florida Marlins over the San Diego Padres 4-2
Wednesday night.
|  | | Marlins pitcher Ryan Dempster earned his fourth straight victory Wednesday. |
"It was a low fastball and I was able to turn on it," said
Brown, who started only his ninth game this season. "I hit it
good, barely got it out, but I'll take anything that leaves the
field."
Luis Castillo swiped a career-high four bases for Florida, a
Marlins team record, going 2-for-2 with three walks.
"We don't demand that he steals four bases a night," Marlins
manager John Boles said. "To steal four bases, that's quite a
feat."
Dempster (5-2), whose last loss was against Chicago, allowed two
runs and seven hits in 7 2/3 innings in sending San Diego to its
ninth loss in 11 games.
"He's going to be a good one," Brown said. "When he made
mistakes, we played defense and that's important."
Antonio Alfonseca pitched the ninth inning for his major-league
leading 14th save in 15 chances, retiring three straight batters
following Bret Boone's leadoff triple.
Tony Gwynn, in his second game back from the disabled list, was
0-for-4 and was robbed of a potential home run when Floyd leaped
and snared Gwynn's drive as it was heading over the left-field
fence.
"That was by far the best catch I've ever made in my life,"
Floyd said. "I work hard at (defense.) You try and help your team
any way you possibly can. When he hit it, I thought, 'Go back as
far as you can and jump.' "
Dempster struggled early, wasting a 1-0 lead in the second when
he opened with walks to Phil Nevin and Ryan Klesko. After striking
out Boone and Damian Jackson, he gave up a single to Carlos
Hernandez and a bases loaded walk to Matt Clement (4-3), who
entered with a .056 average (1-for-18).
Dempster then struck out Eric Owens. The 23-year-old pitcher
thinks that's a sign of his growing maturity on the mound.
"Two years ago I would have crumbled," Dempster said. "I
probably would have walked four or five in that inning. I felt out
of synch a little today. This is almost as fun as the one-hitter. I
didn't have everything going. To pitch this way and get a win is
great."
Clement, who began 4-0, failed to get past the sixth inning for
the third straight start. He gave up four runs and nine hits in
five innings.
The game drew 6,955, the second straight night the Marlins set a
franchise low for a home game. The NBA's Miami Heat beat the New
York Knicks 87-81 across town in Game 5 of their playoff series.
"You know we won, so it seems like 60,000," Boles said. "The
6,900 that were here, they were into it."
Preston Wilson hit an RBI single in the first. Florida, which
stranded six runners in the first three innings, took a 3-1 lead in
the fifth when Kevin Millar walked and Brown hit only his second
homer of the season. Paul Bako added an RBI double later in the
inning for a 4-1 advantage.
"The key batter was Millar," Clement said. "I got ahead and
should have finished him off. ... We win the game if I get him
out."
Game notes
Klesko homered in the sixth. ... The Padres have sent 12
players to the disabled list this year, and the opening-day lineup
hasn't played together since opening day. ... San Diego RHP Brian
Boehringer, on the DL since April 21 with a right shoulder strain,
began a rehab assignment Wednesday at Class-A Rancho Cucamonga. ...
The Padres opened the season with 27 of 43 games on the road. Only
the Dodgers (14) and Devils Rays (15) have played fewer home games.
... San Diego 3B Phil Nevin, who hit a pair of two-run homers
Tuesday night, just missed getting hit in the head by a pitch from
Dempster during his first at-bat. ... The Marlins are 6-11 against
NL West teams this year, but 11-4 against the East. ... Millar
again started at third base for the Marlins in place of Mike
Lowell, out with a left thumb injury. ... Florida won't have to see
Brian Meadows this series. The ex-Marlin is 2-1 with a 1.23 ERA in
his past three starts, including a victory against his old
teammates.
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Baseball Scoreboard
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