Conine slams door on Brewers

Valdez throws six scoreless innings in Marlins debut

By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

 

 

MIAMI -- Yet another newcomer made an immediate contribution in his Marlins debut.

Ismael Valdez, acquired a week ago from the Padres for a minor league pitcher, tossed six scoreless innings and Jeff Conine belted a grand slam as the Marlins shut out the Brewers, 5-0, Saturday night at Pro Player Stadium.

 

On the night Jack McKeon became the seventh active manager to reach the 900-victory plateau, Valdez, Rudy Seanez, Billy Koch and Nate Bump combined on a three-hit shutout.

 

Valdez (10-6) hadn't gone deeper than 5 2/3 innings in his last seven starts as a Padre. In his first outing since filling the rotation spot vacated when Brad Penny was dealt to the Dodgers, Valdez yielded two hits, walked three and struck out three.

 

Valdez beat the Brewers for the third time this season, and lowered his ERA against them to a stunning 0.86 (two runs in 21 innings).

 

With Mike Lowell in a 2-for-24 slide, and Paul Lo Duca hampered by a bruised left ring finger, the Marlins went with a makeshift lineup. It produced nine hits and enough run support for the Marlins to win their third straight while logging their ninth shutout of the season.

 

McKeon rested the two All-Stars, and the offense delivered early.

 

Conine's grand slam provided a 4-0 lead in the first inning off Wes Obermueller (3-6). Luis Castillo reached on an infield single and Damion Easley was hit by a pitch. After Miguel Cabrera walked, loading the bases, Conine turned on a 3-1 pitch and crushed a 433-foot shot to left field.

 

It was Conine's seventh career slam and fifth as a Marlin, setting a franchise record. Conine had been tied at four with Derrek Lee.

 

Conine now has two grand slams this season, the other coming on July 11 against the Mets. And as a team, the Marlins have four this year after going the entire 2003 season without one.

 

The last time a Marlin connected on two slams in a season was Kevin Millar in 2001.

 

In the second inning, the Marlins threatened again, loading the bases with no outs. But after successive singles by Valdez, Juan Pierre and Castillo, Obermueller was lifted for right-hander Matt Wise.

 

Wise wiggled out of the jam by getting Easley to bounce into a 1-2-3 double play before retiring Cabrera on a fly out to right.

 

In the seventh inning, Easley's sacrifice fly to left field gave the Marlins a 5-0 cushion. The run was unearned as Pierre reached on Bill Hall's error at second. Pierre went to third on Castillo's hit-and-run single through short.

 

The other active managers with 900 or more wins are Tony La Russa, Bobby Cox, Joe Torre, Lou Piniella, Art Howe and Dusty Baker.

 

Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

You know the song "Can you feel the heat deep down in your soul"?

 

 

 

Well whatever it is for the Marlins, I'm starting to get it again... :thumbup