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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
CINCINNATI (AP) -- The music played and the players took
impromptu dance steps in the Florida Marlins' clubhouse Sunday
after they achieved a franchise first.
The Marlins completed their first-ever sweep in Cincinnati with
a 9-6 victory that left them with a better record and a more
promising short-term outlook than the Reds.
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Griffey Sr. in good condition
after experiencing chest pains
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CINCINNATI -- Reds bench coach Ken Griffey Sr. was taken to a hospital for observation Sunday after he became ill during Cincinnati's loss to the Florida Marlins.
The Reds said Griffey felt mild chest pains during the game and was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital as a precaution. He was to have precautionary tests Sunday night and Monday and is in good condition. A hospital spokesperson said Griffey Sr. did not suffer a heart attack. He is expected to be released Monday.
Griffey is the second Reds coach hospitalized in a week. Pitching coach Don Gullett was taken to a hospital in New York after he felt chest pains during a game last Monday.
Gullett went to the Cleveland Clinic for tests Thursday that found no problem with his heart. He's expected to rejoin the team Monday.
The Reds lost their fifth in a row Sunday, matching their second-longest losing streak this season.
-- Associated Press
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Mark Kotsay hit a two-run homer in the first inning, and Derrek
Lee and Andy Fox hit consecutive homers off Danny Graves in the
eighth as the Marlins won their fifth in a row, matching their
season high.
They're back above .500 at 56-55 and have a better record than
the Reds (54-56) -- a stunning turnabout. The Marlins lost 98 games
last season and got swept in a lopsided four-game series in
Cincinnati last August.
Manager John Boles never thought his team would be ahead of
Cincinnati a year later.
"Not in my wildest dreams. How could you?" Boles said. "The
Reds last year were just an awesome team. They pounded us here -- I
mean, just pounded us. We came in here late and they beat us
unmercifully."
The Reds don't look anything like the team that won 96 games
last season. They've lost five in a row, their bullpen is a mess
and the Marlins are playing like a more well-rounded team right
now.
Cincinnati traded for center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. in the
off-season and have declined. The Marlins have gone in the other
direction and improved.
"They're going to be a good club down the road," manager Jack
McKeon said. "They did it the right way. They traded for
pitching."
The Marlins' pitching wasn't the best Sunday, but they won
anyway by taking advantage of the Reds' mistakes.
Cincinnati tied it at 6 in the seventh on Dmitri Young's
bases-loaded single off Manny Aybar (2-2), traded from the Reds to
the Marlins on July 26.
McKeon's decision to once again turn to Graves (10-3) quickly
blew up. Graves blew a save for the second time in three chances Saturday night, helping the Marlins rally for a 10-5 victory in 11
innings, and was coming in for his third appearance of the series.
Lee hit Graves' fifth pitch over the wall in left for his 21st
homer, and Fox homered deep to right three pitches later for an 8-6
lead. Mike Lowell added an RBI double in the ninth off Graves.
Those were the Marlins' first consecutive homers since June 24.
Lee has homered in 10 of his last 13 road series.
Graves threw 61 pitches in the three games, but disagreed with a
suggestion that he was tired.
"If I hadn't given up back-to-back homers, people wouldn't be
saying that," Graves said. "That's when people start using
excuses. I'm not going to say I'm tired. If I was tired, I would
tell them I couldn't pitch."
Braden Looper came in with two on in the bottom of the ninth and
got three outs for his second save in as many chances.
Kotsay hit a two-run homer in the first inning off Scott
Williamson and singled home another run as the Marlins pulled ahead
6-4 in the fifth.
A day after they lost because Dante Bichette failed to tag up in
the ninth, the Reds again had trouble with the simple things.
Catcher Benito Santiago let a throw from the outfield deflect off
his glove and roll away for a run-scoring error in the second.
Shortstop Juan Castro also threw a ball into the Reds' dugout on
a routine grounder in the ninth, setting up the Marlins' final run.
"Right now, it's just a bad year," Williamson said.
"Nothing's going our way."
The Marlins also took advantage of Williamson's control
problems. The reliever-turned-starter walked three in four-plus
innings, and all three runners scored.
Chuck Smith got his second single of the season and scored his
first run as the Marlins pulled ahead 4-1 in the second, but he
couldn't hold the lead. Smith gave up 11 hits and three walks in
six-plus innings, leaving as the Reds rallied to tie it in the
seventh.
Clutch hitting again was a problem for Cincinnati. During their
five-game slump, the Reds have gone only 9-for-55 (.164) with
runners in scoring position.
Game notes
Florida's Luis Castillo missed his second game with a
strained hamstring. The major leagues' stolen bases leader is
day-to-day. ... Henry Rodriguez is 4-for-18 with a pair of doubles
in five games since coming to the Marlins in a trade with the Cubs.
... The Marlins are over .500 for the first time since July 20. ...
Reds SS Barry Larkin missed his second game with a sprained knee.
... Ken Griffey Jr. bunted for a single against the Marlins'
infield shift and went 2-for-4 with a walk, extending his hitting
streak to six games. He raised his average to .246.
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Cincinnati Clubhouse
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