Stottlemyre Finds Catch in Marlins

Todd Stottlemyre returned to his early season form and is ready for a postseason run.

Now if only the Arizona Diamondbacks can get to the playoffs.

Stottlemyre gave up five hits in 7 1/3 innings Saturday night as Arizona beat the Florida Marlins 4-1 and tightened the National League wild-card race at Miami.

The Diamondbacks, who won for only the sixth time in 17 games, are 3 1/2 games behind the Mets.

“We are going to have the opportunity to determine our fate,” Stottlemyre said. “We’re going to be able to take care of the teams that are ahead of us.”

Greg Colbrunn hit a go-ahead single in the eighth inning and Steve Finley followed with his career-high 35th home run.

Stottlemyre, making his second start since a 10-week layoff with tendinitis in his right elbow, struck out four and did not walk anyone.

“It’s been a long time,” Stottlemyre said. “When you’re sitting on the DL you don’t want to just get back. You want to get back and contribute. It was fun tonight. It’s been a long time since I’ve had fun.”

Stottlemyre (9-5), who won seven of his first eight starts this year, retired 17 of the first 20 batters he faced.

“It wasn’t him,” Florida outfielder Preston Wilson said. “We just didn’t hit. I didn’t hit, nobody hit.”

Stottlemyre gave up only three hits before giving up a home run to Cliff Floyd to lead off the seventh inning. The Marlins have scored two runs in their last 20 innings.

“We have good enough pitching and good enough defense. It’s the run production,” Marlin Manager John Boles said. “That for me is the last piece of the puzzle. We’ll keep working on it.”

Matt Mantei earned his 13th save in 15 opportunities.

Florida starter A.J. Burnett (2-5) gave up nine hits and four earned runs in eight innings. Last week at Arizona, Stottlemyre pitched 4 2/3 innings in the Diamondbacks’ 10-5 win over Burnett and the Marlins.

“He was really a lot better than the first time we faced him,” Boles said of Stottlemyre. “He’s a competitor. You just love him, his makeup, his tenacity. He’ll do anything to try to beat you.”

Tony Womack started Arizona’s three-run eighth inning with a walk. Womack later scored on Colbrunn’s single.

Finley then hit a drive that barely cleared Mark Kotsay’s leaping attempt at the fence in right field.