Maddux Victimized Again By Offense

FLORIDA 3, SAN DIEGO 1

Tim Powers
Contributing Writer

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Ricky Nolasco threw eight solid innings and Jorge Cantu belted a two-run home run to lead the Florida Marlins to a 3-1 victory over the San Diego Padres in the opener of a three-game series on Monday. Kevin Kouzmanoff had a pair of hits for the Padres, who have lost nine straight home games for the first time since August 11-30, 1980 when they played at Jack Murphy Stadium.

Nolasco (10-4) yielded just one run on five hits and won his career-best fifth consecutive decision. The 25-year-old righthander, who also has won nine of his last 10 decisions, struck out seven and did not walk a batter. Kevin Gregg worked a perfect ninth to convert his 16th save in 22 chances. "I was just trying to challenge guys early and get early contact to keep us in the game," Nolasco said. "I'm not going to really walk anybody, I'm just going to challenge them and throw strikes. I feel good, I feel strong and trying to keep it going for the rest of the year."

Cantu's two-run blast in the fourth - his 16th of the season - against San Diego starter Greg Maddux (3-7) gave Florida a 2-0 advantage and provided all the run support Nolasco needed. "Ricky had been unbelievable and it's a good feeling to back him up like that," Cantu said. "(Maddux) paints his spots and you're just trying to make contact and put the ball into play. He's one of the best and he has been for a long time."

Chase Headley sliced the deficit to 2-1 with a solo shot in the fifth, the rookie's fifth homer of the season. But Nolasco allowed little else, retiring 12 of the next 14 batters he faced before giving way to Gregg. Josh Willingham's RBI groundout in the eighth made it 3-1.

Maddux failed to earn a victory for the 11th consecutive start, the second-longest winless stretch in the 42-year-old future Hall of Famer's career. The four-time Cy Young Award winner has not won since May 10, when he notched career win No. 350. "(Maddux) threw the ball well," Black said. "He made the one mistake to Cantu. He tried to get the ball down and away, and the ball sort of climbed back up on him. Cantu sort of jumped on that first pitch sort of middle up and squared it up. But, it was typical (Maddux)."