Having won three of its past four, Florida entered Saturday's game with double-digit hit totals in four straight contests. Lowell's stretch was the longest active in the majors. Second on the team with 25 RBI, Floyd has homered four times in 11 at-bats and in three consecutive games. There are going to be times you hit the ball hard and they catch them. Three went for extra bases.
Every pitcher goes through a rough time in the season.
Clement found a modest groove thereafter. Including the final out of the first inning, he retired 11 straight. In the fifth, Clement walked Ronnie Belliard for the second time and Jeffrey Hammonds followed with a double. Lopes was surprised with Leiter, who fed the Marlins a diet of cutters and sliders, not unlike Al Leiter does when pitching for the New York Mets. The elder Leiter did not allow a hit until the fourth inning, struck out four and walked one.