| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME LOG
MIAMI -- Barry Larkin left the game with a dislocated
finger, and Michael Tucker took a pitch in the ribs, prompting a
bench-clearing confrontation.
But for the Cincinnati Reds, it was a home run by Mike Lowell
that hurt the most.
|  | | Florida's Mike Lowell said of his game-winning homer: 'I never had that feeling. It's unbelievable.' |
Lowell homered with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning as
the Florida Marlins overcame five RBI by Dante Bichette to beat
Cincinnati 7-6 Sunday.
The Reds, who blew a 6-3 eighth-inning lead, fell one game below
.500 as they struggle to stay in the National League Central race.
"We thought we had the game won," said Danny Graves (10-5),
who gave up Lowell's homer. "When it goes bad, it goes bad."
Larkin left the game after dislocating the middle finger on his
left hand batting in the fifth inning. X-rays were negative, but
the shortstop is expected to miss at least one game.
Florida's Ryan Dempster took a 3-1 lead into the seventh, but
came unraveled following a disputed call on an attempted forceout
at second base. Umpire Ian Lamplugh ruled shortstop Andy Fox pulled
his foot off the base prematurely on a grounder by Ken Griffey Jr.,
although replays showed otherwise.
After Marlins manager John Boles argued briefly, Sean Casey
singled home a run and Bichette hit a three-run homer, his 16th of
the year and his first in 110 at-bats, to put the Reds ahead 5-3.
On the next pitch, Dempster hit Tucker in the ribs. When Tucker
started toward the mound and shouted at Dempster, both benches
emptied.
"It was kind of funny," Marlins catcher Mike Redmond said.
"You hear all the footsteps, and it sounds like a herd of cattle
coming at you."
No punches were thrown and no one was ejected, but after the
game, Tucker remained angry at Dempster.
"He'd better hope we don't play again," Tucker said. "It was
bull. He messed up and gave up a three-run homer. There's no need
to throw at someone."
Dempster said he hit Tucker accidentally, but was braced for the
Reds' outfielder to charge him.
"They didn't build any fences around the pitcher's mound,"
Dempster said. "He could have gotten out there. He was more than
welcome to come out there. I guess he just wanted to talk."
The teams don't meet again this season.
Lowell's 18th home run of the season was his first game-winning
homer. It came on a 3-1 fastball.
"I never had that feeling," Lowell said. "It's
unbelievable."
Florida's Preston Wilson hit his 22nd homer and his first in 140
at-bats. Dan Miceli (6-3) pitched a scoreless ninth for the victory.
The Marlins tied the game with three runs in the eighth. Lowell
and Derrek Lee singled, and pinch-hitter Mark Smith followed with
a run-scoring double. The Marlins made it 6-5 when third baseman Chris
Stynes bobbled Kevin Millar's grounder for an error. Luis
Castillo's grounder deflected off Stynes' glove for a game-tying
single.
It was just Castillo's 10th RBI of the year. He is trying to
avoid the major league record for fewest RBI in a season for a
player with at least 450 at-bats. San Diego's Enzo Hernandez set
the record with 12 in 1971.
Florida snapped a three-game losing streak. The Reds had won
three in a row.
"Lately whenever we think we're on track to turn it around,
something bites us on the butt," Graves said. "That's the way the
whole season has been going."
Cincinnati stranded a season-high 14 runners.
"You know that's going to come back to haunt you," manager
Jack McKeon said. "You have to cash in."
Game notes
Pokey Reese, who missed the last nine games with a strained
hamstring, entered the lineup in the fifth inning to replace
Larkin. ... Larkin has eight hits in 17 at bats (.471). ... Smith's
double was his 11th pinch-hit this season, tied for third in the
Marlins' record book. ... The two teams combined for five
intentional walks, tying the high in the majors this season. ...
Redmond went 0-for-2 and is in a 1-for-15 slump.
| |
ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Cincinnati Clubhouse
Florida Clubhouse
RECAPS
Baltimore 3
Tampa Bay 2
Kansas City 11
Boston 7
Minnesota 7
Detroit 6
NY Yankees 7
Oakland 5
Chi. White Sox 2
Seattle 1
Anaheim 10
Cleveland 9
Toronto 6
Texas 4
St. Louis 7
Atlanta 2
NY Mets 2
Arizona 1
Houston 7
Montreal 3
Philadelphia 2
San Francisco 1
Colorado 9
Pittsburgh 2
San Diego 2
Milwaukee 1
Los Angeles 7
Chicago Cubs 6
Florida 7
Cincinnati 6
|
