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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Thanks to Mike Lowell, the Florida Marlins
wrapped up one of the best road stretches in franchise history.
Lowell's three-run homer capped a four-run eighth inning in a
5-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday. The Marlins
took two of three from the NL Central-leading Cardinals after sweeping the
Cincinnati Reds for only their second 5-1 trip in franchise history.
|  | | Florida's Mike Lowell, right, is congratulated after hitting his go-ahead three-run homer in the top of the 8th inning. |
"I think we've surprised some people as of late, and maybe all
year, and hopefully we can keep doing that," Lowell said. "We're
all kind of in the same boat here. There's no guaranteed contracts
and we're young, we're hungry."
With runners on second and third and the Marlins trailing 3-2,
Lowell hit his 17th homer on a 3-2 slider from reliever Matt Morris
(0-3).
"That's why the guys who hit 30-plus get the big bucks,"
Lowell said. "I wouldn't say it was the last thing on my mind, but
it was not what I was trying to do."
Armando Almanza (4-0), in relief of Ryan Dempster, walked two in
1 1/3 hitless innings. Antonio Alfonseca finished for his major
league-leading 34th save in 38 chances.
Morris worked a perfect seventh, but retired none of the four
batters he faced in the eighth. Mark Kotsay led off with a double,
Kevin Millar doubled and Preston Wilson had a run-scoring single
before Lowell's homer.
Wilson also had a sacrifice fly in the sixth for the Marlins'
first run.
J.D. Drew hit a two-run homer in the first and Placido Polanco
was 3-for-4 with an RBI triple for the Cardinals, who are 10-16
since the All-Star break. They've scored only five runs in the last
32 innings.
"If you play nine innings and only have a couple opportunities,
it means you're not making enough happen," manager Tony La Russa
said. "You leave yourself vulnerable."
La Russa shook up the lineup a bit, batting Drew second and
giving shortstop Edgar Renteria a rest in favor of Polanco. He also
top-loaded the order with five straight left-handed batters.
"You're always concerned," La Russa said. "That's the way
you're supposed to operate. Otherwise, you walk around with your
chin stuck out waiting for somebody to right-hook you."
Cardinals starter Andy Benes worked six innings and threw 111
pitches in 94-degree heat, allowing one run on four hits. He's 0-3
in his last five starts after winning six straight decisions from
June 6-July 13.
"I'm just going out trying to make good pitches," Benes said.
"I don't determine when they take me out of the game. I felt fine
and felt like I could have continued."
Fernando Vina singled to open the first and Drew followed with
his 16th homer. All of Drew's homers have come against right-handed
pitchers.
"Three pitches, two runs," Dempster said. "You've just got to
realize they're going to be aggressive and you've got to battle
your butt off."
Polanco hit his RBI triple in the sixth as right fielder Kotsay
barely missed a diving catch, giving the Cardinals a 3-1 lead. He's
14-for-32 (.438) for his career against Florida, but flied out with
runners on second and third against Dan Miceli to end the eighth.
Dempster lasted six innings, allowing three runs on nine hits
with five strikeouts.
Game notes
The Marlins also had a 5-1 trip in St. Louis and Cincinnati
from Aug. 27-Sept. 1, 1996. John Boles also managed the team at
that time, having taken over for Rene Lachemann at the All-Star
break. ... St. Louis' Ray Lankford struck out for the 100th time in
271 at-bats in the first. ... Wilson struck out his first two
trips, raising his major league-leading total to 143. ... Marlins
pitchers have allowed four or fewer runs in 12 of 14 games. ...
Luis Castillo was 0-for-4 with a walk and is 3-for-18 against St.
Louis this season.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Florida Clubhouse
St. Louis Clubhouse
RECAPS
Cleveland 6
Texas 4
Baltimore 5
Detroit 2
NY Yankees 12
Oakland 1
Tampa Bay 5
Minnesota 4
Chi. White Sox 19
Seattle 3
Kansas City 5
Toronto 3
Boston 4
Anaheim 2
Florida 5
St. Louis 3
Colorado 4
Pittsburgh 3
San Francisco 9
Milwaukee 3
Cincinnati 10
Atlanta 6
Philadelphia 3
San Diego 2
NY Mets 12
Houston 5
Montreal 4
Arizona 3
Chicago Cubs 5
Los Angeles 4
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Mike Lowell talks about his three-run home run.
wav: 91 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Ryan Dempster is glad to be leaving on a winning note.
wav: 98 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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