Marlins Ground Astros, 6-1
MIAMI (CBS4) - Florida Marlins manager Jack McKeon stayed with Ricky Nolasco and the right-hander rewarded him on Saturday for the vote of confidence.
Nolasco tossed a seven-hitter for his sixth career complete game, Logan Morrison hit a bases-loaded triple in Florida's four-run fifth inning and the Marlins beat the Houston Astros 6-1.
"Every pitcher from the minor leagues to the major leagues, that should be the goal," McKeon said of Nolasco's effort. "We've got too many guys now who go five or six and look over their shoulder, 'Who's going to pick me up?'
"We train 'em that way, and that's the way they're going to be. But we're going to untrain them."
John Buck hit career homer No. 100 for the Marlins, who tied a season high with their fourth consecutive victory. Morrison finished with three hits, and Nolasco (6-5) struck out eight and walked one in his second complete game of the season — both coming in his last three starts.
"The mindset I have is to go as deep as I can, for as long as I can, to keep my team in the game," he said. "Jack let me keep going out there and I'm just trying to make him look good on his decision to let me keep going in the game."
Houston has lost eight of nine and 13 of 15 overall. Brett Myers (3-9) allowed six runs, five earned, and four hits in 4 1/3 innings, dropping to 0-5 with an 8.17 ERA in his last seven starts against Florida.
The Astros hurt themselves with shoddy defense in the fifth. With one out and Emilio Bonifacio on first, shortstop Clint Barmes booted Omar Infante's chopper for an error that left runners on first and second.
Myers then walked Gaby Sanchez and Hanley Ramirez to force in a run before Morrison hit a liner into right-center for his second triple of the season.
Wilton Lopez then came in and retired Mike Stanton and Mike Cameron to end the inning.
Bonifacio also helped set up Florida's first run. He started the Marlins first with a walk and stole second. He then moved up on a grounder and scored on Ramirez's infield out.
Buck homered on a 1-2 pitch with two out in the second to give Florida a 2-0 lead. The milestone drive also was his 10th in his first season with the Marlins.
"My wife said to me, 'See if you can get that ball ... if you ever hit it,'" said Buck, who did get the ball back.
Pinch-hitter Brian Bogusevic hit an RBI double in the seventh for Houston's only run.
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