Only 12,806 Watch Estes, Giants Beat Marlins, 8-0

Shawn Estes made the Florida Marlins look feeble Monday night, and their only consolation was that few people saw the game.

Estes pitched a four-hitter and the San Francisco Giants hit three home runs to defeat Florida, 8-0, before 12,806 fans, the smallest home crowd in the Marlins’ six-year history.

Bill Mueller and Barry Bonds hit back-to-back homers in the third inning against rookie Andy Larkin (1-2). Jeff Kent added a three-run homer in the fifth and also singled and tripled.

“Estes was in total control,” Kent said. “With him pitching the way he was, we were able to have fun.”

The start of the game was delayed 1 hour, 25 minutes by a thunderstorm. When rain resumed in the seventh, the crowd dwindled to less than 1,000.

“You appreciate the people that hang in there,” Florida Manager Jim Leyland said. “They didn’t get much to cheer about.”

The previous low in Marlin attendance was 14,052 against Cincinnati on May 28, 1996.

The weather and lopsided score resulted in a flurry of substitutions. San Francisco Manager Dusty Baker took his outfielders out of the game after six innings with an 8-0 lead, and Florida backup catcher Gregg Zaun entered the game at second base in the eighth.

The shutout was San Francisco’s first this year and the third of Estes’ career. His last complete game came against Florida on June 3, 1997.

“When you give that good a pitcher that kind of breathing room, you’re usually in for a long night,” Leyland said.

Estes (2-4) struck out four and walked one. He welcomed the rain delay because he struggled warming up.

“I had trouble getting in a groove, and I didn’t feel confident throwing strikes,” he said. “I felt more at ease after the rain delay. It did me some good. The hour off gave me time to relax and focus a little more.”

San Francisco ended a two-week batting slump with 12 runs Sunday at Atlanta. On Monday they had 12 hits, including six for extra bases, and scored seven runs in four-plus innings against Larkin.

“They hit everything I threw up there,” Larkin said.

Kent, who began the game in an 0-for-14 slump, had three hits, including his third homer.

“I’ve been 0 for 14 before,” Kent said. “I’ve been 0 for 20, 0 for whatever. Who cares? Stuff happens. You just keep plugging.”