Scott Olsen allows 2 hits in 8 2-3 innings to pitch Marlins to 3-0 win over Brewers
By STEVEN WINE | Associated Press | May 6, 08 8:57 PM CDT in
Sports
Scott Olsen allowed two hits in 8 2-3 innings, and Mike Jacobs hit a two-run homer to help the Florida Marlins beat the slumping Milwaukee Brewers 3-0 on Tuesday night.
Ryan Braun doubled in the fourth and Prince Fielder singled with two outs in the ninth for Milwaukee's only hits.
Olsen came within a strike of his first complete game and the Marlins' first since Sept. 16, 2006, but he walked pinch-hitter Joe Dillon to load the bases with two outs in the ninth. Kevin Gregg needed only one pitch to retire Bill Hall on a flyout for his sixth save in seven chances.
The Brewers lost their fourth game in a row, their longest losing streak this season. They've totaled six runs in four games against Florida this season, and Olsen has pitched 16 scoreless innings against them.
Olsen (4-1) struck out eight, walked four and lowered his ERA to 2.22. Last year, he had an ERA of 5.81, the highest of any pitcher in the National League with at least 162 innings. Olsen threw 121 pitches, 77 for strikes, and became the first left-handed starter to beat the Brewers this season.
Jeff Suppan (1-2) allowed three runs in five-plus innings and remained winless in six starts since April 2.
Luis Gonzalez went 4-for-4 and drove in a run for Florida. The game drew only 10,113 fans, the Marlins' smallest home crowd this season.
Olsen retired the first eight batters before he walked Jason Kendall on four pitches. Rickie Weeks struck out to end the inning.
Brewers manager Ned Yost was ejected for arguing after Mike Cameron was called out on strikes to start the fourth. Yost came onto the field for a lengthy debate with plate umpire Derryl Cousins, and when play resumed, Braun doubled on the first pitch for Milwaukee's first hit.
Dan Uggla doubled in the second and scored on a single by Gonzalez to put Florida ahead 1-0. After Hanley Ramirez walked with two outs in the third, Jacobs hit his ninth homer to center field.
Notes:@ Anibal Sanchez pitched the Marlins' last complete game, a 2-1 loss to Atlanta. ... Yost's ejection was his first of the season. ... Cameron went 0-for-4 and has a lifetime average of .136 (3-for-22) against Olsen. ... Top OF prospect Cameron Maybin was batting .262 with 39 strikeouts in 103 at-bats for Double-A Carolina through Monday, and Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said there's no timetable for calling him up. "What's the big hurry?" Gonzalez said. "Let's make sure he's ready."
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