Lowell Homers Again for the Marlins

<br>Mike Lowell homered again for Florida, and Danny Bautista put on his own power display for Arizona. <br><br>Bautista homered twice and set career highs with five hits and five RBIs, but it was his

Friday, April 23rd 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Mike Lowell homered again for Florida, and Danny Bautista put on his own power display for Arizona.

Bautista homered twice and set career highs with five hits and five RBIs, but it was his go-ahead RBI single in the 15th inning Thursday that sent the Diamondbacks to an 11-9 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, the majors' longest game this season.

Bautista, two years removed from shoulder surgery, also extended his hitting streak to 14 games as Arizona stopped its losing streak at four with a game won in 5 hours and 22 minutes.

``I've got a lot of confidence back,'' Bautista said. ``We know we're a very good team.''

Lowell is on a good team, too. The Marlins third baseman, who set a team record with three homers Wednesday, hit another in a game that included a bench-clearing brawl.

The defending World Series champions completed their third straight three-game sweep over the Philadelphia Phillies with a 9-7 win.

In other NL games, it was: Colorado 7, Los Angeles 1 in six innings; Cincinnati 5, Atlanta 3 in five innings; San Diego 9, San Francisco 4; New York 3, Montreal 2, St. Louis 2, Houston 1 in 12 innings.

While rain ended two games early, it postponed the Pittsburgh-Chicago series finale at Wrigley Field.

The Marlins' 11-4 start is the best in franchise history through 15 games.

Lowell struck out three times before hitting a two-run shot in the ninth to give the Marlins a 9-5 lead.

Earlier in the game, Phillies catcher Todd Pratt and Marlins shortstop Alex Gonzalez were ejected for starting a melee in the second inning after Brett Myers threw a pitch high and inside to Gonzalez following a homer by Mike Redmond.

``You can't take that. You do nothing, the next time he hits you,'' Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez took a step toward the mound and pointed at the pitcher. Gonzalez swatted at Pratt, who then retaliated with a right cross.

Both benches cleared as Pratt, in a boxing stance, threw several punches. Meanwhile, Marlins pitcher Carl Pavano threw Phillies third baseman David Bell to the ground.

``I had to defend myself as soon as he raised his hands,'' Pratt said. ``He underestimated me. I'm a big guy, but I can box. I grew up in a rough neighborhood.''

Florida has won 18 of the last 20 games _ including six in a row this year _ against the Phillies, who blew a slim wild-card lead over the Marlins down the stretch last season.

In Arizona, Bautista opened the scoring in the second inning with a solo homer an added a two-run shot in the sixth. The Diamondbacks scored four more runs before the Brewers rallied with three in the ninth to tie it at 9.

Arizona second baseman Matt Kata hit a leadoff single in the 15th and was sacrificed to second by Brent Mayne. Bautista then singled with two outs.

``A guy like that picks up the offense and he did a great job today,'' Arizona pitcher Matt Mantei said. ``He's actually done that for the last 14 games.''

Rookie third baseman Chad Tracy followed Bautista's hit with an RBI single off Adrian Hernandez (0-2). Tracy had four hits in his first start.

Reds 5, Braves 3, 5 innings

Ken Griffey Jr. hit a bases-loaded, two-run single and the Reds took advantage of Jaret Wright's wildness to beat visiting Atlanta in a rain-shortened game.

Cory Lidle (2-1) pitched through the rain for five innings, giving up three runs and five hits.

Wright (1-1) walked five and threw only 23 strikes out of his 53 pitches.

Cardinals 2, Astros 1, 12 innings

Hector Luna's sacrifice bunt scored Reggie Sanders in the top of the 12th, giving St. Louis its best road start in more than 60 years.

Scott Rolen also drove in his NL-leading 26th run for the Cardinals, 6-0 on the road _ the team's best start since 1941.

Jason Isringhausen (1-0) was the winner, and Julian Tavarez finished for the save. Dan Miceli (0-1) took the loss.

Padres 9, Giants 4

In San Francisco, Phil Nevin hit a two-run homer, and San Diego's Ismael Valdez (2-0) pitched 5 2-3 strong innings on a day Giants slugger Barry Bonds was held out of the lineup to rest.

San Diego took three out of four from the Giants, pounding out 52 hits.

Kirk Rueter (0-2) had a 1-2-3 first inning before the Padres scored six times in the second.

Mets 3, Expos 2

In New York, Steve Trachsel (2-2) and two relievers combined on a five-hitter, and Mike Piazza hit a go-ahead double for the Mets.

Braden Looper got pinch-hitter Jamey Carroll to ground out with runners on the corners for his fourth save.

With 26 runs this season, Montreal is the first team not to score more than four runs in any of its first 16 games since the 1968 Chicago White Sox, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

Rockies 7, Dodgers 1, 6 innings

In Denver, Shawn Estes (3-1) allowed only two hits for Colorado, and Matt Holliday hit his first major league homer and drove in three runs.

Vinny Castilla went 3-for-3 with a home run, and Jose Lima (2-1) was tagged for seven runs and six hits in three innings.