Marlins Find Another Ace in Rapp

A second consecutive shutout, another record-setting victory. The Florida Marlins just keep on topping themselves.

Pat Rapp pitched a five-hitter for Florida’s second consecutive shutout and the Marlins extended the best start in their history by defeating the Reds, 10-0, on Friday at Cincinnati.

Rapp (1-0) provided an encore to Alex Fernandez’s one-hitter in Chicago on Thursday by holding the Reds to three singles--two of them infield hits--and doubles by Eddie Taubensee and Willie Greene.

The right-hander threw only 99 pitches, walked two and struck out one in a game completed in 2 hours 16 minutes.

“We get up 10-0, he throws 99 pitches--it doesn’t get any better than that right there,” said Kurt Abbott, whose three-run homer completed a seven-run sixth inning.

Marlin pitchers have thrown 22 consecutive scoreless innings and their staff has given up only 51 hits in nine games, best in the National League.

“That decides it every year, normally,” Marlin Manager Jim Leyland said. “Certainly you can have one year where you outslug ‘em. But for the most part, when all is said and done, whoever pitches the best wins the pennants.”

Moises Alou and Abbott each homered and drove in three runs as the Marlins improved to 8-1, the best start in their history.

The Reds have lost five in a row and six of seven because their starting rotation has collapsed. John Smiley (1-2) continued the slump by giving up seven runs--five earned--in five-plus innings.

“I stunk tonight. That’s all I can say. I hope I don’t stink for the next 30 starts,” Smiley said.

The Marlins scored three runs in the first with the help of left fielder Ozzie Timmons’ error. Alou’s two-run homer, his second, completed the rally.

The Marlins sent 10 batters to the plate for seven runs in the sixth inning, their biggest this season. Alou had a run-scoring single off Smiley to start the scoring and Abbott hit a three-run homer, his first, off Stan Belinda to complete it.

In all, Florida put together two walks, four consecutive singles, Abbott’s homer and Kevin Jarvis’ run-scoring wild pitch in the inning.

St. Louis 4, Houston 2--Ron Gant, mired in a five-for-32 slump with zero runs batted in to start the season, hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning that gave the Cardinals the victory at St. Louis.

Mark Sweeney walked with one out against Shane Reynolds (1-1) and Dmitri Young barely beat out a potential double-play grounder before Gant homered.

Rich Batchelor (1-1) worked a scoreless eighth in relief of starter Donovan Osborne. Dennis Eckersley, making his second appearance of 1997, struck out the side in the ninth for his first save.

Luis Gonzalez was four for four for the Astros with four singles, tying a career high.

Royce Clayton homered on Reynolds’ first pitch of the game. Clayton also jumped on Reynolds’ first pitch of the third for a double and later scored.

San Diego 8, Philadelphia 3--Steve Finley went two for three with four runs batted in as the Padres spoiled the Phillies’ home opener.

Sterling Hitchcock, who gave up only one hit in eight innings last Saturday against the Phillies for his first victory this season, gave up three runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings to improve to 2-0.

Ken Caminiti’s sacrifice fly broke a 2-2 tie in the sixth, and Finley hit a bases-loaded triple in a five-run seventh.

Curt Schilling, who has two of the Phillies’ three victories this season, picked up his first loss, giving up seven runs and 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Schilling had retired 12 consecutive batters before the Padres, playing their first road game this season, took the lead for good in the sixth.

Quilvio Veras singled leading off but was picked off. Tony Gwynn, who went three for five, followed with a single, Finley doubled and Caminiti hit a sacrifice fly to make the score 3-2.

Finley’s triple in the seventh made it 6-3, chasing Schilling. Caminiti hit an RBI double later in the inning and Wally Joyner singled in a run. Kevin Stocker had an RBI single in the bottom half.

Atlanta at Chicago--The game between the Cubs and Braves was called because of snow. It will be made up July 22 as part of a doubleheader at Wrigley Field.

Montreal at Colorado--The Expo-Rocky game, postponed because of snow, will be made up April 14.

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Steve Finley San Diego 2 for 3, 4 RBI, double, triple Win Greg Gagne Dodgers 3 for 4, 3 RBI, 2 runs, triple Win Moises Alou Florida 2 for 4, 3 RBI, 2 runs, 1 HR Win Ron Gant St. Louis 2 for 4, game-winning, 2-run HR Win

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PITCHING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Pat Rapp Florida 9 innings, 5 hits, 0 runs Win Dennis Eckersley St. Louis First save of season Win

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