Marlins edge the Diamondbacks, 3-2

MIAMI -- Maybe these first-place Florida Marlins are no fluke.

Dan Uggla hit his 14th home run and Kevin Gregg escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth inning to help the Marlins take the opening game in a series between division leaders, beating Arizona, 3-2, on Tuesday night.

The game was the Marlins’ first against an opponent that has a winning record since May 1, and the widespread assumption is the team with baseball’s smallest payroll will fold as the schedule becomes more difficult.

But NL East leader Florida did lots of little things right against Arizona, which began the week with the best record in the majors. Jeremy Hermida and Luis Gonzalez had two-out RBIs, the worst defense in the majors was errorless and Gregg came to the rescue to protect a one-run lead.

“We’ll just keep plugging away,” Gregg said. “Everybody is looking at you like, ‘These guys aren’t any good.’

“But we’re at the top of the division, where everybody wants to be.”