MIAMI -- Manager Joe Girardi made out a lineup card
without Miguel Cabrera's name on it for the first time. That
didn't stop the Florida Marlins from enjoying a power surge.
Rookie Hanley Ramirez provided the big blow with a three-run
homer in a four-run fifth inning as the Marlins posted a 9-3
victory over the Houston Astros to get a split in their
four-game series.
Wes Helms, Jeremy Hermida and Mike Jacobs added solo home runs
for the Marlins, who more than doubled their total of four runs
in the first three games of the series.
Girardi decided to rest Cabrera, a three-time All-Star and the
club leader with 15 home runs, for the first time this season.
Cabrera started 89 games at third base and one as the designated
hitter before Sunday, making him the only Marlin to play in
every game.
"Our big donkey got the day off and we went out and put some
numbers up there on the board," said Helms, who started at third
for Cabrera and drove in three runs. "It's good for Joe to give
him the day off because he needed the rest and it was good for
us as a team to pick up the slack with him not out there."
"The greatest thing about today is you can give him (Cabrera) a
whole day off," Girardi said. "The guys stepped up and were
outstanding."
The four home runs tied a franchise record and marked only the
seventh time the Marlins have done it here at cavernous
Dolphin Stadium. The last time was April 8, 2001 against
Atlanta.
After struggling against Houston starters Roy Oswalt, Roger
Clemens and Andy Pettitte in the first three games of this
series, the Marlins managed just one hit in the first four
innings against rookie Taylor Buchholz on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Houston built a 3-0 lead against Florida rookie Scott
Olsen (7-4) on a bloop RBIs double by Preston Wilson in the
first inning and a two-run double by Lance Berkman in the fifth.
But Helms hit Buchholz's first pitch in the fifth inning over
the left field wall. Buchholz (6-7) then walked Matt Treanor
and Alfredo Amezaga before Ramirez pulled a curveball over the
left field wall to give the Marlins a 4-3 lead.
"I tried to give a good swing and look for my pitch," Ramirez
said. "We put them (the homers) together and pulled for each
other."
Buchholz, who had won his previous three decisions, was more
affected by the walks than the home runs.
"Walking the eight hole doesn't help me out at all. Then I just
couldn't get the ball down," said Buchholz, who finished with
five walks and seven strikeouts.
Hermida hit reliever Wandy Rodriguez's first pitch over the
right field wall in the sixth inning and Jacobs homered off Russ
Springer in the seventh.
Helms also doubled home two runs in the seventh and Jacobs added
an RBIs double in the eighth.
"I don't think one player makes a team, but Miguel is our big
player," Jacobs said. "We certainly have a good bench and
the guys proved it today."
Despite yielding three runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings, Olsen
picked up his first win since June 16.
"I was extremely happy to see that (Ramirez home run) ball go
out, extremely happy," Olsen said. "He's been doing it for us
all year, even when he doesn't do it at the plate. He walks, he
hustles down the line, he steals and makes great plays on
defense."
Randy Messenger, Logan Kensing and Joe Borowski combined to
pitch 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.