Marlins’ Hernandez Remains Perfect

Florida Marlins rookie Livan Hernandez is unbeaten and getting better.

The 22-year-old Cuban defector gave up three hits in eight innings for his fifth win Wednesday night, leading Florida past the Reds, 6-0, at Miami.

Hernandez became the first Marlin pitcher to start a season 5-0.

“It doesn’t look like he’s afraid, that’s what I like,” Manager Jim Leyland said. “He looks like he believes he belongs here.”

Hernandez has pitched deeper into the game in each of his past four outings. The right-hander has a 1.57 ERA in the past 34 1/3 innings.

“He has been pitching great, and we need him,” teammate Moises Alou said.

The streaky Alou had a three-run homer and a run-scoring double, giving him three homers and seven RBIs in two nights. Dennis Cook closed out the victory, giving up one hit in the ninth. Florida outhit Cincinnati, 14-4.

The Marlins began the night 7 1/2 games behind NL East leader Atlanta. The teams start a four-game series in Miami today.

“It’s a bigger series for us than it is for them,” Leyland said. “It’s not the end of the world either way. We just have to win as many games as we can by the end of the season.”

Hernandez, whose status was uncertain until the Marlins this week decided against trading for a veteran starter, had a season-high eight strikeouts and walked two in his longest major league appearance. He kept the Reds guessing by throwing curveballs when behind in the count.

“Every outing I get more confidence,” he said through a translator. “I’m mixing my pitches more, and it’s much more effective. I look forward to helping the team get to the playoffs.”

Pete Schourek (5-7), who has been the subject of trade speculation, gave up six hits and four runs in four innings. The left-hander, winless in three starts since coming off the disabled list, struggled again with his velocity.

Colorado 12, Montreal 6--Andres Galarraga would not allow himself to get mad about a four-strikeout game the previous night. Instead, he chose to get his revenge.

Galarraga hit two homers and drove in five runs, giving him a major league-leading 101 RBIs, as the Rockies beat the Expos at Denver.

“I have to give credit to Pedro Martinez for throwing the ball he wanted last night and anybody else would have made me mad,” Galarraga said. “That was yesterday and today I concentrated on not striking out for a fifth straight time and hitting the ball hard when I had good pitches to hit.”

Galarraga went three for four with a walk. He hit a two-run homer in the first inning and three-run shot, his 28th, in the eighth.

“That’s a great way to bounce back and I had nothing to do with it,” Colorado Manager Don Baylor said. “The team played a lot better offensively. We had a dominant pitcher shut us down yesterday and today we had a little more offense.”

Houston 7, St. Louis 4--Craig Biggio hit a bases-loaded triple in the eighth inning and Darryl Kile won his eighth consecutive decision as the Astros won at Houston.

After the Cardinals scored three times in the eighth to tie it, 4-4, Houston came back with three runs.

Tim Bogar drew a leadoff walk from Tony Fossas (1-2) and Tony Eusebio singled. Reliever Mark Petkovsek walked pinch-hitter Thomas Howard, and Biggio followed with a liner into the right-field corner.

The NL Central-leading Astros are seven games ahead of St. Louis. Houston finished 9-3 against the Cardinals after going only 2-11 against them last year.

Kile (15-3) has won 14 of his last 15 decisions, including a 6-0 mark in July.

Kile gave up 10 hits and struck out seven in eight innings. Tom Martin pitched the ninth for his first save.

New York 5, San Francisco 2--Carl Everett’s two-run single capped a three-run eighth inning as the Mets rallied at San Francisco, cutting the Giants’ lead in the NL West to half a game.

Rick Reed (9-4), who won his fifth consecutive decision, gave up two runs on five hits in seven innings as the Mets broke a three-game losing streak. John Franco pitched a perfect ninth for his 28th save in 32 opportunities.

Brian Johnson hit two solo homers for the Giants, whose half-game lead over the Dodgers is their slimmest in the NL West since June 11. The Giants led the division by six games at the All-Star break.

Julian Tavarez (3-3), who gave up Everett’s single, was the loser. Giant starter Kirk Rueter pitched seven shutout innings, but was removed after giving up singles by pinch-hitter Alex Ochoa and Lance Johnson to lead off the New York eighth.

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Moises Alou Florida 2 for 3, 4 RBI Win A. Galarraga Colorado 3 for 4, 2 HR, 5 RBI Win Chipper Jones Atlanta 3 for 5, 3 RBI Win Vinny Castilla Colorado 4 for 4, 1 RBI Win

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PITCHING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Livan Hernandez Florida 8 innings, 3 hits, 8 strikeouts Win Darryl Kile Houston 8 innings, 10 hits, 7 strikeouts Win

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