Phillies fall from 1st with loss to Marlins

[September 20, 2008]  MIAMI (AP) -- The Philadelphia Phillies' winning streak was no match for the surging Florida Marlins and their .818 hitter, newcomer Cameron Maybin. And it cost them first place in the NL East.

The rookie had four hits for the second straight game, tied a franchise record by reaching base in 10 consecutive plate appearances and helped the Marlins beat the Phillies 14-8 on Friday night.

Florida snapped the Phillies' seven-game winning streak, their longest this season. The Marlins, scrambling to climb into the playoff race with nine games left, tied a franchise record with their ninth consecutive win.

Philadelphia began the night leading New York in the division by one-half game, but the loss to the Marlins and the Mets' 9-5 win over Atlanta, dropped them to second, one-half game behind New York. Florida is 4 1/2 games behind the Phillies in the wild-card race.

The Phillies' Brett Myers (10-12), who pitched a two-hitter in his last start, gave up five runs in his first 17 pitches before retiring a batter. He departed with none out in the fifth and allowed a career-high 10 runs.

Myers' biggest problem was Maybin, recalled from the minors Tuesday. One of the top prospects in the trade that sent Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis to Detroit, Maybin singled in his first four at-bats to hike his average to .900 (9-for-10).

Maybin received a standing ovation from the crowd of 20,202 after he popped out in the eighth, ending a streak of eight consecutive hits to tie another franchise record. He led off all three innings in which Florida scored, stole two bases, scored three runs and finished the night batting .818.

Teammate Mike Jacobs drove in four runs. Dan Uggla hit his 31st home run for Florida, Jorge Cantu added his 29th and Alfredo Amezaga drove in three runs with his third homer.

The run total allowed by the Phillies was their season high. Florida went 7-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

Ryan Howard briefly put Philadelphia ahead with a two-run homer in the fifth, his 46th. Shane Victorino hit his 13th homer and Gregg Dobbs hit his ninth.

Josh Johnson (6-1) won despite giving up a season-high six runs, five earned, in five innings.

In the matchup between baseball's two hottest teams, the lead changed hands for the third and final time when Florida scored six runs in the fifth to go ahead 11-6. Maybin led off with a single, stole second and came home on Cantu's double. Uggla's bases-loaded single scored a run to put the Marlins up 7-6 and end Myers' night.

Luis Gonzalez hit into a forceout to score another run, and Amezaga hit a two-out homer off Rudy Seanez.

Florida fell behind 2-0, then rallied for five runs in the first. Maybin led off with an infield single. He took second on his first stolen base and came home on John Baker's single. Cantu also singled, and Jacobs doubled home two runs.

Uggla hit a 3-2 pitch for a homer and a 5-2 lead.

Notes: Florida SS Hanley Ramirez (shoulder) missed his second game in a row but may play this weekend. ... The Marlins have won nine consecutive games four other times, most recently Aug. 20-29, 2006. They did not do it either year they won the World Series. ... Florida (81-72) climbed nine games above .500 for the first time since May 27. ... Myers fell to 3-8 on the road with an ERA of 6.21. ... The Phils' Jayson Werth struck out four times.

[Associated Press; By STEVEN WINE]

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