MIAMI -- Over the past few games, the Florida offense has started to come alive. As the Marlins creep to the top of the National League Wild Card race, count Carlos Delgado as a major factor in their ascension up the standings.

 

The All-Star first baseman is heating up at the right time -- he went 3-for-4 with two RBIs on Monday in a 5-2 win over the Dodgers. The Marlins have won two in a row and five of their last six. In its past three games, Florida has scored a combined 18 runs on 29 hits.

 

"That's great, that's why we're here," Delgado said. "Just want to get as many [wins] as we can."

 

Delgado's RBI single in the first inning scored Juan Pierre to give the Marlins an early 1-0 lead. In the seventh, Delgado recorded his third single of the game, driving in Damion Easley to extend the lead to 4-2.

 

"I've been seeing the ball better," the first baseman said. "I was out for a couple of weeks; you come back and almost have to start from scratch, but the last couple days, I'm having better at-bats and putting the bat on the ball."

 

Since returning from the disabled list on Aug. 13 after missing 17 games with a sore left hand, Delgado is batting .345 (10-for-29) with three home runs and eight RBIs, and the Marlins are within striking distance of first place in the NL Wild Card race.

 

"We've battled through some injuries the last couple of weeks and we know it's not going to be easy, but it's going to be that much sweeter when we get to the end and look back and say we did it," he said. "It takes a team effort. One guy isn't going to win it, 25 guys are going to win it."

 

On Saturday night, Delgado slid into the padding of the wall along the first-base line and hit both knees as he made a difficult catch in foul territory during the third inning of the Marlins' 11-6 loss against the Dodgers.

 

Though the training staff ran onto the field to check on him, Delgado walked off the field under his own power and finished the game batting 2-for-4, including his 24th home run of the season, with two RBIs.

 

Over the last three games, the left-handed slugger has led the Marlins offense, hitting .583 (7-for-12) with five RBIs. He's now driven in 85 on the season, just one behind team leader Miguel Cabrera.

 

"It's good to see," manager Jack McKeon said. "Delgado's picked us up."

 

http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/...t=.jsp&c_id=fla

Word :notworthy

Good read

Creeping back to .300 for the season. If both he and Cabrera finish over .300 with 30 + HR's, it'd be hard for us not to make the playoffs.