Dodgers Hook Marlins

Mark Kotsay hasn't hit a ball much harder at Pro Player Stadium.

His deep drive into right-center field with two on and two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning had the fans on their feet and the Florida Marlins creeping out of the dugout.

"I thought, this is going to be a great finish," Florida manager John Boles said.

But Kotsay's drive came up 5 feet short.

Shawn Green caught the ball at the warning track, ending the game and giving the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-3 win, their fifth in six games.

Nunez pitched seven innings, allowing five hits and two runs. But the bullpen couldn't hold the lead. The Dodgers scored three times in the eighth.

"As long as we stay close, we feel like we can get to anybody," Dodgers manager Davey Johnson said.

Braden Looper (0-1), replacing Nunez to start the eighth, gave up doubles to Gary Sheffield and Beltre. He also walked Green and surrendered an RBI single to Chad Kreuter.

"Looper's been fabulous," Boles said. "It's just a case tonight where the bad guys won."

Matt Herges (2-0) pitched a scoreless seventh, Terry Adams added a scoreless eighth and Jeff Shaw allowed two hits in the ninth before earning his 11th save.

With runners on second and third and trailing 5-3, Kotsay hit Shaw's first pitch deep into the gap in right field.

"I hit that as good as I've hit a ball here," Kotsay said.

But the wind seemingly held it up, keeping it in the park.

"I guess I just wasn't strong enough," Kotsay deadpanned.

"He got under it just a bit," Boles said.

Nunez, meanwhile, got his third consecutive no-decision, all coming in strong starts. Winless on the season, he held the Dodgers scoreless through four innings before giving up a pair of runs in the fifth.

Dodgers starter Chan Ho Park looped a single into center field, and with two outs, Mark Grudzielanek tripled over Preston Wilson's head in center. Wilson slipped as he trotted toward the line drive and couldn't get up in time to make the catch.

Sheffield then singled home Grudzielanek, giving Los Angeles a 2-1 lead.

"We don't like to play from behind like that, but we know we can score when we have to," Sheffield said.

Kevin Millar got the only hit off Park through the first five innings. He hit a home run, his fourth of the season, to left field in the second.

The Marlins, who have lost four of their last five, started to get to Park in the sixth. Kotsay tripled over the head of Todd Hollandsworth, scoring Luis Castillo from first and tying the game. Kotsay scored on a passed ball.

Park allowed three hits and three runs in six innings. He walked four and struck out five.

"To pitch six innings and only give up three hits, that's always a good outing," Park said. "And the guys did a good job of picking me up."

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