Saturday, July 21, 2001
Marlins' Floyd has become star
The Associated Press
MIAMI — Cliff Floyd is keeping up his All-Star pace.
Floyd, Mike Lowell and Derrek Lee homered in the first inning to lead the Florida Marlins to a 5-3 victory over the Reds on Friday night. Floyd went 2-for-4, raising his average to .353 with 26 home runs and 83 RBI.
“You learn as you go,” said Floyd, who made the All-Star team this year for the first time. “This doesn't just happen overnight.”
“When I step up to the plate, I have all the confidence in the world,” he said. “I hit line drives. I keep concentrating and good things are going to happen. I'm never looking for the home run. Most of mine are line drives. I'm not giving any at-bats away. I'm greedy.”
Matt Clement (6-6) scattered nine hits and allowed two unearned runs in six innings for his second straight win as the Marlins improved to 7-2 since the All-Star break.
“I want to keep this rolling,” said Clement, who had his slider working. “I feel like it's a rebirth for me in the second half, stringing two good games together.”
Antonio Alfonseca got three outs for his 18th save.
The Marlins got out to a quick start against Jose Acevedo (2-2). Alex Gonzalez hit a one-out single, and Floyd hit his 26th homer of the season. Lowell followed with a solo shot to make it 3-0. After Kevin Millar flied out, Lee hit a solo homer.
“Acevedo got the ball up in the first big time,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “Floyd, he just hammered it.”
Clement tired in the seventh when he gave up consecutive singles to pinch hitter Brady Clark, Todd Walker and Dmitri Young with no outs. Armando Almanza replaced Clement and struck out Ken Griffey Jr. and Sean Casey — both looking.
“Those are two of the best hitters in the league,” Clement said.
Almanza was then relieved by Ricky Bones, who committed a two-run error after throwing Aaron Boone's slow tapper over Lee's head at first base.
Luis Castillo hit an RBI single for Florida in the seventh to make it 5-2.
Walker, in his first game since being acquired by the Reds, hit a solo homer off Braden Looper in the eighth.
“When (Clement's) getting ahead of the hitters, he's almost impossible to hit,” said Walker, who had three hits.
Marlins Notes: The last time Florida hit at least three home runs in an inning was in a 7-6 victory at St. Louis on Aug. 26, 1998. That day Marlins hit a team-record four homers in the ninth. Floyd, Lee, Mark Kotsay and Kevin Orie each homered. ... Gonzalez extended his hitting streak to 12 games, and Floyd increased his to 10 straight. ... The Marlins have hit back-to-back home runs three times this year. ... Pro Player Stadium is one of six major league stadiums Griffey has not homered in. Griffey, who was 0-for-3, has not homered in 16 at-bats there.
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Marlins' Floyd has become star
