Fernandez, Marlins Blast Cubs

The woeful Florida Marlins looked like a much better team with their best hitter and best pitcher back in the lineup.

Slugger Cliff Floyd, making his 1999 debut, and ace Alex Fernandez came off the disabled list Tuesday to spark an 8-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

"The two big guys coming back gives the team a great boost," Fernandez said.

Floyd, returning from a spring-training knee injury, began to earn the four-year, $19 million contract he signed last winter. He singled in his first at-bat and scored on Kevin Orie's double, then singled in the sixth before departing for a pinch runner.

"Hopefully this is the start of something good," Floyd said.

Florida, which has the NL's worst record at 6-14, broke a three-game losing streak.

"It was certainly our best game of the year, and we certainly needed it," manager John Boles said. "It was a big pick-me-up having Alex and Cliff."

Boles removed Fernandez one inning shy of the five innings needed to qualify for the victory.

"He wanted to go back out. He offered me everything but a Mercedes," Boles said. "He was upset. I kept my glasses on so he wouldn't punch me."

Before the game, Boles said Fernandez would be limited to 75 pitches. After being pulled, Fernandez angrily knocked over several portable posts marking a walkway as he stomped from the dugout to the clubhouse.

"Was I happy? No," he said. "I'm still not happy. But I understand. It's the best thing for Alex Fernandez, and I appreciate that."

Fernandez, making only his third start in his comeback from rotator cuff surgery in October 1997, limited Chicago to four hts and lowered his ERA to 1.98.

"Today was the best I've felt throwing the ball since my surgery," said Fernandez, who reached a top velocity of 88 mph, close to his norm. "When I needed a little extra on the fastball, I was able to do it."

Mark Kotsay and Alex Gonzalez hit solo home runs, their first for the Marlins. The homers increased the team total to 10, matching the top individual total in the majors by Tampa Bay's Jose Canseco.

Jorge Fabregas, who began the night batting .175, drove in three runs with a double and a pair of sacrifice flies. Brian Edmondson (1-1) allowed one hit in 3 1-3 innings and hit the first two doubles of his career, driving in one run.

Vic Darensbourg and Braden Looper completed the six-hitter for Florida's first shutout. The Cubs were blanked for the first time.

"We were just sluggish no offense whatsoever," Chicago third baseman Gary Gaetti said.

Scott Sanders (0-3) allowed seven hits and left after four innings trailing 4-0.

"He just didn't have it," manager Jim Riggleman said. "His velocity wasn't there. He didn't have the pop he's used to having."

Floyd singled to lead off Florida's two-run second, and Kotsay homered in the third. The Marlins' starting lineup came into the game with a total of two homers this season, both by Derrek Lee.

Lee's RBI triple sparked a three-run sixth that made the score 7-0. Gonzalez homered in the seventh.

Notes: Cubs right-hander Kurt Miller was activated from the disabled list before the game. Right-hander Matt Karchner was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Monday with a strained right groin. Karchner is the sixth Cubs pitcher to go on the disabled list this season. ... Sammy Sosa went 0-for-2 against Fernandez, dropping his lifetime average against the right-hander to .071 (1-for-14). ... During pregame ceremonies, Sosa was honored for his humanitarian work by the government of his native Dominican Republic. ... Florida rookie third baseman Mike Lowell, who has yet to play this season following surgery for testicular cancer, took batting practice and will work out with the Marlins during the rest of their homestand. There's no timetable for his return, which has been delayed by soreness in his throwing shoulder. ... The Marlins took a 34-33 lead in the all-time series.

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