Marlins Beat Leyland, Again

For the second consecutive year, Jim Leyland is having a hard time winning in Miami.

Brian Meadows pitched seven innings and Kevin Millar hit a tie-breaking two-run homer Saturday night to lead the Florida Marlins past Leyland's Colorado Rockies 4-1.

The series is Leyland's first in Miami since leaving the Marlins last October after they finished with the National League's worst record since 1969. The Marlins again have baseball's worst record, but they've won two in a row this weekend against Colorado.

Leyland led the Marlins to the World Series championship in 1997, but he hasn't exactly received a warm welcome this weekend. Fans jeered in the seventh inning when he emerged from the dugout to argue a call.

"I don't pay attention to that stuff," he said. "I'm just trying to win a game."

Meadows (9-11), helped by center fielder Preston Wilson's spectacular rally-killing catch in the second inning, allowed seven hits and one run. The Marlins right-hander threw 99 pitches despite a blister on the middle finger of his right hand that has bothered him for more than a month.

"It wasn't bleeding; it was just raw," Florida manager John Boles said. "I don't think there's any blood left in the tip of that finger. He gets the red badge of courage today."

Jesus Sanchez pitched a perfect eighth, and Antonio Alfonseca followed with a 1-2-3 ninth for his ninth save, completing a seven-hitter.

Millar broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth with his seventh homer after Bruce Aven led off with a walk against Brian Bohanon (10-9). Luis Castillo had his third consecutive three-hit game and drove in the Marlins' final run in the seventh with an infield single.

Wilson prevented a big inning when he made a diving catch at the warning track to rob Henry Blanco of an extra-base hit with two on in the second.

Meadows said his blister didn't bother him after the second inning, and he was helped by Colorado's lack of patience at the plate. The Rockies failed to draw a walk for the second night in a row.

"They're up there hacking," Meadows said. "Sometimes somebody that aggressive is good for a pitcher. When they're up there swinging, a lot of times you can make them hit your pitch."

Bohanon, who is 5-9 since starting the season 5-0, allowed five hits in six innings. He left trailing 3-1 but wasn't impressed by Meadows.

"We should have lit up that guy," Bohanon said. "That's just the way it's been good pitching, no hitting. Good hitting, no pitching. We're just not a good team right now."

Florida took a 1-0 lead in the first. Castillo led off with a double on a fly ball misplayed by right fielder Larry Walker, then scored on Aven's single.

Colorado tied the game in the third. Neifi Perez singled, stole second, took third on a groundout and scored on Walker's groundout.

Notes