Hermida leads Marlins over Rockies

Sep 15, 2007, 4:52 GMT

Denver, CO - Jeremy Hermida homered and drove in three runs as the Florida Marlins edged the Colorado Rockies, 7-6, in the start of a three-game series at Coors Field.

Dan Uggla also had two hits and scored a run for Florida, which has won three straight. Dontrelle Willis (9-15) also went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored, but labored through another shaky outing on the mound, allowing five runs and seven hits, with four walks and three strikeouts over six innings in the start.

'It was a big win for me, big win for the team,' said Willis. 'We're playing a good team, a playoff-caliber team, and we want to be the spoiler.'

Jeff Baker and Matt Holliday homered, and Jamey Carroll added three hits for the Rockies, who were coming off a split in a four-game series in Philadelphia and fell 3 1/2 games behind San Diego in the NL wild card race. The Padres beat San Francisco, 5-4, in 10 innings on Friday.

Matt Herges (1-4) absorbed the loss, yielding two runs and four hits in relief of starter Josh Fogg, who gave up four runs and five hits in five innings of work.

'It's unacceptable,' said Herges. 'When you come into the game and you're winning, and you leave the game and you're losing, that's as bad as it gets.'

Florida opened the scoring in the second behind back-to-back, lead-off doubles from Josh Willingham and Mike Jacobs, but the Rockies took a 2-1 lead in the third on Troy Tulowitzki's two-run double.

The Marlins came right back in the fourth, as Jacobs drew a lead-off walk and scored on Willis' triple to right. Hanley Ramirez followed with a single up the middle, plating Willis for a 3-2 edge.

The seesaw battle continued, as Baker's two-run homer put the Rockies back on top in the fourth. Carroll doubled and a base hit by Fogg made it 5-3.

Hermida's lead-off homer in the fifth quickly helped the Marlins cut it to 5-4, and the Rockies left the door open after Tulowitzki grounded into an inning-ending, double-play with the bases loaded in the sixth.

Florida responded by taking the lead in the seventh, as Uggla ripped a lead- off triple, Hermida knocked him in with a base hit to right and Miguel Cabrera singled to put runners at first and second with no outs. Willingham popped up and Jacobs struck out looking, but Matt Treanor's double cleared the bags to put the Marlins ahead, 6-5.

Hermida's fielder's choice grounder in the eighth gave the Marlins a much- needed insurance run, and Colorado wasted a lead-off double by Carroll in the eighth before Holliday's solo shot in the ninth made it 7-6.

Kevin Gregg then got a 370-foot out on Todd Helton's fly ball to the right- field fence, and Garrett Atkins put one in nearly the same spot before Brad Hawpe's routine grounder ended the game, allowing Gregg to earn his 30th save.

Game Notes

The Marlins activated pitcher Renyel Pinto from the 15-day disabled list Friday and transferred first baseman Aaron Boone, who is out for the season after undergoing surgery on his left knee, to the 60-day DL...Willis came into the game winless (0-3) over his last five starts and is just 2-12 in his last 20 starts...Hermida's homer was his 17th of the season for Florida...Baker cranked his fourth for Colorado and Holliday's long ball was his 31st of the season...It was Baker's first start since suffering a concussion on August 10 when Cubs starter Jason Marquis hit him in the head with a pitch.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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