Other Sports
Florida Marlins Team Report - August 11
By The Source
Aug 11, 2004

(Sports Network) - Surprising righthander Carl Pavano will go for his fourth consecutive win tonight, when he anchors the Florida Marlins against the St. Louis Cardinals in the middle test of a three-game series at Pro Player Stadium.

In a rotation that included such names as Josh Beckett, Dontrelle Willis and Brad Penny heading into the season, Pavano was the forgotten man. Clearly, Pavano hasn't minded as he has quietly racked up 12 wins and an impressive 3.21 ERA in 21 starts.

Pavano picked up a win over Arizona last Thursday despite giving up seven hits and five runs over 7 1/3 innings of work. The New Britain, CT native has lost just nine of his last 11 decisions since May 19.

Pavano has tallied an 0-2 mark with a 7.20 ERA versus St. Louis.

St. Louis posted a narrow 2-1 win in 10 innings over the Marlins on Tuesday evening. Guillermo Mota (8-5), in just his fourth appearance with Florida, allowed his first run since coming over from the Dodgers in the 10th. Rudy Seanez held the Cardinals in check with three perfect innings prior to that in relief of Beckett.

Beckett went six innings, giving up just a run and a hit in the no-decision. The ace hurler fanned five and walked three in the contest.

Jeff Conine singled and scored the Marlins' only run on an Alex Gonzalez double in the second inning. Paul Lo Duca finished 2-for-5 in the contest, as the Marlins mustered just seven hits in the loss. Lo Duca is now batting .478 in his six games since being traded with Mota from Los Angeles.

Florida's chances at defending its crown have trimmed in recent days, as it has slipped 5 1/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs for the wild card.

Florida, which is in the middle of a six-game homestand, has tallied a 30-26 record at Pro Player Stadium this season.

The Cardinals won two of three meetings with Marlins at Busch Stadium from May 14-16. St. Louis is 6-4 against Florida since the start of last season.