Guillen Keeps the Marlins in Misery

By the time pinch-hitter Jose Guillen had walked to home plate, he’d forgotten his manager’s advice. Good thing too.

Guillen hit Jay Powell’s first pitch of the 10th inning over the center-field wall to give the Pittsburgh Pirates a 7-6 victory over Florida, the Marlins’ 10th straight loss.

Before sending Guillen to the plate, Pirate Manager Gene Lamont preached patience.

“I was really trying to counsel him not to swing wild and try to win it with one swing,” Lamont said. “Young guys at ends of games tend to do that. He didn’t listen to me real well.”

Florida hasn’t won since beating Chicago in the season opener on March 31, and are off to the worst start by a World Series champion.

The 1947 Cardinals, 1964 Dodgers and 1984 Orioles started their seasons 2-8.

Guillen was given the day off, and his replacement, Turner Ward, had a two-run double.

“I just wanted to get on base,” Guillen said. “I didn’t think about a home run, I just wanted to get a good swing.”

After retiring the Pirates in the ninth, Powell (0-2) surrendered Guillen’s third home run in his first pinch-hitting appearance this season.

Rich Loiselle (1-0) got the victory despite blowing his second save in the ninth inning when Craig Counsell’s RBI groundout tied it 6-6. The Marlins blew a chance to take the lead when Mark Kotsay grounded out and Derrek Lee struck out with the bases loaded.

Philadelphia 6, Atlanta 5--The Phillies beat the visiting Braves for the third time this season, holding on for their fifth consecutive victory.

Tyler Green (1-0) and three relievers combined on a eight-hitter for the Phillies, only 2-12 against the Braves last year.

Andres Galarraga’s three-run homer in the ninth inning off Ricky Bottalico, brought Atlanta within a run. But after Ryan Klesko singled, Bottalico got Javy Lopez to ground out.

Kevin Jordan, a late replacement, went three for four with two doubles and scored twice, and rookie Desi Relaford had two RBIs as the Phillies moved three games over. 500 for the first time in nearly two years.

Dennis Martinez (1-1), the winningest active pitcher in the majors with 242 victories, allowed five runs--four earned--and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. He is one victory short of Juan Marichal’s record for the most wins by a Latin American pitcher.

St. Louis 7, San Francisco 2--Mark McGwire drew a bases-loaded walk for his 1,000th career RBI during the Cardinals’ three-run seventh inning in a victory over the Giants at San Francisco.

After Giant starter Shawn Estes (0-2) loaded the bases in the seventh, reliever Steve Reed hit Brian Jordan with a pitch to give the Cardinals a 3-2 lead. After McGwire walked to force in another, Ray Lankford’s sacrifice fly made it 5-2.

Kent Bottenfield (1-0) got the win in relief.

New York 2, Milwaukee 1--Rey Ordonez singled in the winning run in the ninth inning to give the Mets a victory over the Brewers at Milwaukee.

With one out in the ninth, Butch Huskey doubled off Bob Wickman (0-3). After Carlos Baerga struck out, Wickman intentionally walked pinch-hitter Matt Franco. Ordonez, who left the tying run on base in the ninth inning Thursday in a loss to the Chicago Cubs, made the Brewers pay for that strategy, hitting a sharp single to center to drive in Huskey.

John Franco relieved winner Dennis Cook (1-0) to start the ninth, picking up his second save.

Met starter Masato Yoshii, who has not allowed an earned run in 13 innings, struck out four Brewers before being replaced by Greg McMichael.

Montreal 5, Chicago 4--Vladimir Guerrero doubled home the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning at Montreal to give the Expos their second victory this season.

Mark Grudzielanek and pinch-hitter F.P. Santangelo reached on infield singles in the ninth, and Guerrero followed with a drive off Terry Adams (0-1) that went over center fielder Brant Brown’s head.

Grudzielanek and Guerrero had two hits apiece for the Expos.

Steve Kline (1-0), recalled from Ottawa after Friday night’s game, pitched a perfect 10th for the victory.

Sammy Sosa homered to right with one out in the Cubs seventh to tie it 4-4.

The Expos had gone ahead 4-3 in the sixth when Brad Fullmer and Rondell White hit consecutive doubles and Jose Vidro followed with an RBI single.