Diamondbacks drub Marlins 8-0

[July 11, 2009]  PHOENIX (AP) -- All-Star Dan Haren threw his second career shutout, Felipe Lopez hit a three-run homer and the Arizona Diamondbacks routed the Florida Marlins 8-0 on Friday night.

One night after blowing a seven-run lead - the biggest collapse in team history - the Diamondbacks jumped to a 7-0 fourth-inning lead on Florida starter Ricky Nolasco (6-7), who lost for the first time since June 7.

That lead turned out to be plenty for Haren (9-5), who threw a four-hitter for his third complete game of the season and ninth of his career. Haren's other shutout came Sept. 16, 2008, against San Francisco.

Haren, who entered the game an NL-best 2.16 ERA, struck out 10 and walked one in a 117-pitch outing as the Diamondbacks won for the sixth time in seven games.

He gave up a leadoff single to Chris Coghlan, then retired the next 11 batters. Ross Gload broke up the streak with a grounds-rule double with two outs in the fourth, but Haren struck out Dan Uggla to end the threat.

Haren allowed two-out singles in the fifth and sixth but gave up only a walk the rest of the way. He closed with a flourish, striking out Uggla for the third time to end the game.

Nolasco had gone 4-0 in his last five starts, but he lacked command against the feeble-hitting Diamondbacks, who entered with a .245 team batting average, 15th in the NL.

The Diamondbacks took a 1-0 lead on Miguel Montero's fifth home run, to the right field seats, and they made it 2-0 on Stephen Drew's RBI triple in the third. Drew, who had been 1 for 13 against Nolasco, also had a double.

Arizona erupted for five runs in the third - all with two outs.

Alex Romero's triple made it 3-0, and then Haren dribbled a 20-foot single down the third base line to score Romero.

Lopez followed with a shot to the pool area in right-center field, his sixth.

NOTES: Arizona 3B Mark Reynolds struck out twice to boost his majors-leading strikeout total to 119. ... Marlins SS Hanley Ramirez started for the first time in five games. Ramirez, voted to start the All-Star game, had been nursing a right hip flexor. ... Arizona RHP Tom Gordon, out with a strained left hamstring, pitched batting practice Friday and is scheduled to start a rehab stint at Single-A Visalia on Monday.

[Associated Press; By ANDREW BAGNATO]

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