Marlins End Record Night With Win

May 16, 1998 / 12:45 AM EDT / CBS/AP

The Florida Marlins didn't need the last of their big-money players this time.

The Marlins started out looking more like defending World Series champions than a franchise in disarray Friday night, setting a team record with nine consecutive hits in the first inning of an 8-7 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Florida scored seven runs in the first off rookie Brady Raggio (0-1) with three players on the bench awaiting a reported trade to the Dodgers and a fourth, Gary Sheffield, already in Los Angeles considering whether to waive his no-trade clause the only hangup to the deal being completed.

Cliff Floyd, who had a run-scoring single and a bases-loaded walk in the inning, said players tried to put the situation out of their minds.

"As a team we've already dealt with the trauma of losing all our guys before the season started," Floyd said. "This is nothing. It's a huge deal, don't get me wrong, I'm not stupid, but it's something that's been going on. So why dwell on it? Why make it a big thing?"

Catcher Charles Johnson was replaced by Gregg Zaun, third baseman Bobby Bonilla was replaced by Dave Berg and Sheffield, the right fielder, was replaced in the order by center fielder John Cangelosi as Mark Kotsay moved to right.

Bonilla was on-deck as a pinch hitter in the seventh before Berg, the No. 8 hitter, made the third out.

"I'd like for them to make a decision," Bonilla said.

Those three, along with Jim Eisenreich, are expected to go to the Dodgers in exchange for catcher Mike Piazza and third baseman Todd Zeile in the biggest money deal ever in baseball. The players planned on sticking around the clubhouse for a few hours after the game awaiting word.

Players involved have guaranteed contracts calling for a total of $98 million from 1998 through 2003.

Manager Jim Leyland has orders not to talk about the deal. He ducked the media before the game, keeping his office filled with coaches and other visitors.

"I'm being evasive, I know that, and I probably sound a little sarcastic, but I apologize for that," Leyland said. "Believe me, I've got orders from headquarters not to talk about this at all.

"Please forgive me, but that's the way it is."

The Marlins, who are 14-28 and whose new owners have purged nearly all of their championship team, had enough to knock the Cardinals below .500 at 19-20 for the first time this season. Florida also snapped a five-game losing streak, overcoming two homers by Ray Lankford.

Raggio, called up from Triple-A Memphis earlier in the day, got leadoff hitter John Cangelosi on a groundout. The Marlins followed with singles by Edgar Renteria, Cliff Floyd, Derrek Lee, Kotsay, Zaun, Craig Counsell, Berg and pitcher Brian Meadows.

Raggo walked Cangelosi before Renteria got his second single of the inning. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, walks do not interrupt consecutive hit streaks.

The Marlins' previous record for consecutive hits was seven on June 6, 1994, against Los Angeles. Florida also had nine hits in an inning on June 15, 1994, at St. Louis.

The Marlins set another team record when 11 consecutive batters reached base safely. After Renteria's second single, Floyd walked with the bases loaded for his second RBI of the inning.

Florida has scored six or more runs in seven games this season after totaling eight such innings all last year.

Meadows (4-4) had two hits and an RBI after entering the game 1-for-15.

"My second hit, (Mark) McGwire asked me if they were going to start using me as a pinch hitter," Meadows said.

But he gave up most of the cushion, allowing the two homers by Lankford and a third by pinch-hitter Brian Hunter.

Lankford had a two-run homer and John Mabry had a two-run single for his third hit in a four-run fifth that cut the gap to 8-6.

Lankford missed a third homer that would have tied it in the eighth when Cliff Floyd caught his drive at the left field wall.

Jay Powell, the fifth Florida pitcher, worked the ninth for his second save. Mabry hit an RBI double off Powell.

Raggio, who had been 4-2 with a 2.48 ERA at Memphis, lasted only two-thirds of an inning. He allowed seven runs on nine hits.

"They hit the ball and found the holes," Raggio said. "I thought I was making pretty good pitches, but they had like six ground-ball hits."

Notes: Cardinals shortstop Royce Clayton made his seventh error when he made a good play up the middle, then threw the ball away on an infield hit by Renteria. ... The Marlins have scored first in 22 games, but are only 5-17 in such circumstances. ... Renteria, who had three hits and scored twice, entered the night 12-for-70 (.171) for his career against the Cardinals with one RBI. ... Cardinals outfielder Ron Gant, who batted .138 against Florida with one RBI last year, did not start and struck out with two men on in the seventh as a pinch-hitter. ... Cardinals manager Tony La Russa got ejected by third base umpire Mike Winters in the sixth after a check-swing call went against Lankford.