Kim Fans 10 As Marlins Top Rockies 4-3

MIAMI (AP) _ Byung-Hyun Kim survived a 37-pitch first inning and had a career-high 10 strikeouts Wednesday as the Florida Marlins held off the Colorado Rockies 4-3. <br/><br/>Kim (6-5) needed 126 pitches

Wednesday, August 1st 2007, 9:40 pm

By: News On 6

MIAMI (AP) _ Byung-Hyun Kim survived a 37-pitch first inning and had a career-high 10 strikeouts Wednesday as the Florida Marlins held off the Colorado Rockies 4-3.

Kim (6-5) needed 126 pitches to make it through 5 1-3 innings. He walked six, hit a batter, threw a wild pitch and allowed the Rockies to steal four bases.

But his former team repeatedly wasted scoring chances after taking an early 2-0 lead. The Rockies stranded 14 runners and struck out a season-high 16 times.

When Kim walked the leadoff batter in the third, manager Fredi Gonzalez paid a visit to the mound, and whatever he said transformed his struggling pitcher. Kim struck out the next three batters on 10 pitches, then struck out five over the next 2 1-3 innings while allowing only one hit.

Three relievers combined for 2 2-3 hitless innings, and Kevin Gregg allowed an RBI single to Garrett Atkins in the ninth before striking out Yorvit Torrealba with the bases loaded to complete the victory for his 22nd save in 24 chances.

Florida's Miguel Cabrera had three hits, including his 26th homer. Josh Willingham also had three hits and drove in the go-ahead run for the Marlins, who won for only the second time in nine games.

Josh Fogg (5-7) allowed eight hits and four runs, three earned, in five-plus innings. Fogg was pitching on nine days' rest after his last scheduled start was rained out.

Colorado's Willy Taveras reached four times and stole three bases, a career high, but he was stranded three times.

The first two Rockies to bat scored their only runs until the ninth. Taveras led off the first with his 32nd bunt single of the year, stole second and came home on a double by Kaz Matsui. Todd Helton doubled in another run, but Colorado left the bases loaded.

The Marlins made it 2-all in the bottom of the first. They loaded the bases with two walks sandwiched around a single. Willingham singled home a run, and another run scored when center fielder Taveras bobbled the ball for an error.

Florida went ahead to stay in the fourth when Willingham singled, stole second and came home on a single by Matt Treanor. Cabrera hit a two-out homer on a 3-2 pitch in the fifth.

Notes: Kim's pitch count was the highest for a Florida pitcher since Josh Beckett threw 126 on May 20, 2004, against Houston. ... The Rockies traded Kim to Florida on May 14 for RHP Jorge Julio. ... When Taveras stole second in the fourth inning, Kim crouched to avoid the throw, then inexplicably reached up and caught it. ... Treanor improved to 5-for-6 against Fogg. ... Cabrera moved ahead of Derrek Lee into sole possession of second place on the Marlins' home-run list with 130. Mike Lowell holds the club record with 143.