ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Rookie Scott Olsen was impressive in
his major league debut for Florida, exhibiting the poise of a
veteran in beating Tampa Bay.
Filling in for the injured Josh Beckett, Olsen (1-0) allowed two
runs -- one earned -- and four hits in 5 2-3 innings to help the
Marlins defeat their intrastate rivals for the sixth straight time.
The Marlins purchased the 21-year-old left-hander's contract from
Double-A Carolina on Thursday night, then staked him to a 4-0 lead
before his first big-league pitch.
Carlos Delgado, Mike Lowell, Paul Lo Duca and Juan Encarnacion
drove in runs in the first inning off Casey Fossum (3-6), and that
was more than enough support for Olsen.<
^Nationals 5, Blue Jays 2=
WASHINGTON -- Livan Hernandez won his career-best 10th
straight decision, and Washington extended its home winning streak
to 12 by beating Toronto.
Hernandez (11-2) improved to 10-0 in his last 13 starts, though
he was uncharacteristically wild. He allowed two runs and seven
hits in 7 1-3 innings, walked three, struck out four, hit two
batters and threw a wild pitch.
Ted Lilly (5-8) fell to 0-6 in seven road starts as Toronto lost
its second straight game. Lilly allowed four runs and four hits in
four innings.
Marlon Byrd drove in two runs for Washington, which leads the NL
with 26 home wins. Chad Cordero got four outs for his major
league-best 25th save in 27 chances, his 22nd in a row.<
^Indians 12, Reds 7=
CLEVELAND -- Ben Broussard hit two of Cleveland's five
homers and Jake Westbrook got some unaccustomed run support as the
Indians defeated Cincinnati.
Cleveland, which scored eight runs in the third to overcome a
3-1 deficit, had a season-high 21 hits The Indians stopped a
four-game losing streak, improved to 14-3 in interleague play and
boosted their record since May 21 to 21-10.
Westbrook (5-9) tied a career high with eight strikeouts as he
won his third straight start. He gave up three runs and eight hits
in seven innings, walking one.
Luke Hudson (1-2) allowed seven runs and eight hits in 2 1-3
innings for the Reds.<
^Brewers 7, Twins 6=
MILWAUKEE -- Rookie Prince Fielder hit his first major
league home run, a pinch-hit, three-run drive in the sixth inning
that led Milwaukee over Minnesota.
AL Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana (7-4) led 5-2 before
Carlos Lee's two-run double in the fifth.
Wes Helms walked leading off the seventh, Chris Magruder singled
and Jesse Crain relieved. After J.J. Hardy sacrificed, Fielder
batted for pitcher Matt Wise (1-2). The 21-year-old son of former
major league star Cecil Fielder hit Crain's next pitch 426 feet to
left-center field to give the Brewers a 7-5 lead.
Santana gave up six runs in five innings, ending a streak of 16
straight road wins. He had not lost in 18 road starts since Kansas
City beat him 5-2 on May 24 last year.<
^MORE