Sat Aug 23 01:11:06 2008

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Ross powers Marlins over D'Backs

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Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - Cody Ross hit the go-ahead home run in the eighth inning and finished 3-for-4 with two RBI, as Florida edged Arizona, 5-4, in the first of three games with the Diamondbacks.

Marlins starter Anibal Sanchez last faced Arizona on September 6, 2006, when he threw the fourth no-hitter in Marlins history. Friday, though, he regressed from that lofty standard and took a no-decision after allowing four runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings, with one walk and seven strikeouts.

Arthur Rhodes (3-1) earned the win for completing the seventh inning in scoreless fashion, while Kevin Gregg tossed a perfect ninth for his 28th save of the season.

Paul Lo Duca went 2-for-4 with a walk and one RBI for Florida, which snapped a two-game slide.

Diamondbacks starter Randy Johnson was masterful in a seven-inning start, as he allowed three runs -- two earned -- on six hits and three walks, while striking out a season-high 13.

But Jon Rauch (4-4) took the loss after surrendering two runs in the eighth inning. Stephen Drew went 2-for-4 with two RBI for the Diamondbacks, who had a three-game win streak snapped.

Arizona maintained its two-game cushion atop the NL West over Los Angeles, as the Dodgers lost to Philadelphia earlier Friday.

In a back-and-forth battle, the Marlins found themselves down a run entering the eighth frame. Rauch started the inning badly by giving up a triple to Josh Willingham. After Dan Uggla lined out, Wes Helms brought the runner home with a sacrifice fly to left.

Ross followed by ripping a ball deep to left field for a solo homer that thrust Florida in front, at 5-4.

Matt Lindstrom entered for the Marlins in the eighth and gave up consecutive one-out singles, but got pinch-hitter Alex Romero to ground into a double play to end the inning. In the ninth, Gregg did what Rauch could not by working a perfect inning to finish the game.

Arizona got on the scoreboard in the second inning. Mark Reynolds led off with a single and scored on Miguel Montero's double to the gap in left-center field. An Augie Ojeda single put runners on the corners, and Drew later brought in a run with a sac fly.

Florida got a run in the fourth on Ross' RBI double, and one in the fifth -- a Jorge Cantu sac fly -- to tie the game. The Marlins then went ahead in the seventh.

With two outs Alfredo Amezaga singled and stole second before Lo Duca roped a single to center to plate the run, pushing Florida ahead 3-2.

But Arizona went back in front in the home seventh. With runners on first and second, Drew hit a one-out single to score one. Chris Young followed with a double to bring in another run, ending Sanchez's day. Rhodes came on and intentionally walked Conor Jackson to load the bases before getting out of the jam by fanning Adam Dunn and getting Chad Tracy to fly out.

Game Notes

Johnson struck out 10 batters twice this season -- on May 24 against Atlanta and July 6 against San Diego...The Diamondbacks stranded eight runners, while the Marlins left seven on base.