Marlins 11, Padres 7

MIAMI (AP) Josh Beckett is already looking toward the playoffs.

Beckett allowed two runs in a career-best eight innings, and Derrek Lee homered as the Florida Marlins defeated the San Diego Padres 11-7 Sunday.

Ivan Rodriguez and Luis Castillo had two RBIs apiece for the Marlins, who entered the day a half-game behind Philadelphia in the NL wild card race. The Phillies hosted St. Louis on Sunday night.

Beckett (6-6) allowed five hits, two walks and struck out eight sending San Diego to its fifth straight loss. He also had two of Florida's 15 hits, including a double.

``Pitching wins in the playoffs and no one is as deep as we are,'' Beckett said. ``Once we get to the playoffs we're as good as anybody.''

Beckett missed about seven weeks this season due to a right elbow strain.

``This is the best I've seen him pitch,'' Marlins manager Jack McKeon said. ``He was in command the entire way. We want him to step up from here with our other pitchers who have nine, 10 and 11 wins. He just needed some games under his belt.''

Juan Pierre scored three times for the Marlins, who completed a three-game sweep for their eighth series sweep this season and sixth at home. Lee and Mike Mordecai also drove in two runs each.

``It feels good to close out the series,'' Pierre said. ``We have all 25 guys pulling for each other. Everything seems to be going right for us right now.''

The Padres rallied for five runs in the ninth off Nate Bump on Gary Bennett's two-run double, Lou Merloni's sacrifice fly and Phil Nevin's two-run single.

Michael Tejera came on and retired Ryan Klesko with two on for his second save.

``When you've got a nine-run lead you don't worry too much,'' McKeon said. ``If they had got the tying run up there it's time to worry. The big thing is we got it over.''

San Diego starter Adam Eaton (7-9) allowed four runs on seven hits in 3 1-3 innings. The Padres were outscored 27-10 in the series.

``My pitch location was awful,'' Eaton said. ``I wasn't able to make adjustments. It was my worst location day ever.''

Florida scored four runs on three extra-base hits in the fifth off reliever Joe Roa. Miguel Cabrera led off with a double, then scored on a throwing error by first baseman Klesko. Castillo and Rodriguez each hit an RBI triple to give the Marlins an 8-0 lead.

``We played some horrible baseball today,'' Padres manager Bruce Bochy said. ``We let the game get out of hand. Their guy had good stuff. We showed a lot of fight at the end, but that's not good enough.''

The Padres got a two-run double from pinch-hitter Rondell White in the eighth.

The Marlins chased Eaton in the fourth. Beckett led off with a double and scored on a single by Pierre. Rodriguez's double scored Pierre to make it 4-0.

Lee's 23rd home run in the third gave the Marlins a 2-0 lead. Eaton has allowed six home runs in his last four starts.

Florida scored in the first inning. Pierre led off with a bunt single, and Castillo's double put runners on second and third. Pierre scored on an RBI groundout by Mike Lowell.

The Marlins added three runs in the eighth on an RBI single by Lee and Mordecai's two-run double off Jaret Wright.< ^Notes:@ The Padres have lost nine of their past 12 games. ... Mark Kotsay lost his bat after swinging at Beckett's pitch in the third inning. The bat went three rows into the stands behind the Marlins' dugout but didn't hit anybody. ... Cabrera has a nine-game hitting streak. ... Lee lost his bat after swinging in the third. It landed in the Padres' dugout. ... Lee's home run gave him 286 extra-base hits with Florida, tying him with Cliff Floyd for the franchise record.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)