Haren shines as Marlins down Giants
SAN FRANCISCO -- Dan Haren did it all Thursday night against the San Francisco Giants, pitching seven effective innings and contributing a two-run double to lead the Miami Marlins to a 7-2 triumph in the opener of a four-game series.
Haren delivered his big hit during Miami's three-run uprising in the second inning against Giants starter Tim Hudson (1-3), who yielded 15 hits and six of the Marlins' runs in 6 2/3 innings.
"This guy's prepared. He studies hitters," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said about Haren. "The four days he's not pitching, he's figuring out how to beat the next team. He's a great competitor. I've seen that really his whole career. He just doesn't make a ton of mistakes out over the plate. He doesn't give in."
The Giants sustained little offense through the first six innings against Haren (4-1), who blanked them on five hits through that juncture. They mustered a pair of seventh-inning runs, but that barely cut into the 6-0 lead Miami had built.
"Really, Haren's the one who killed us, on the mound and with the bat," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy, whose pitchers have allowed 33 hits in the last two games after fashioning three shutouts in a row.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Haren's a hit: The first hit of the season was a big one for Haren. The Marlins right-hander was 0-for-10 before he lined a two-run double to right-center with two outs in the second inning. With the Dodgers last year, Haren had one double, and he now has 26 two-base hits in his career. Haren's double set up a three-run second inning. More >
Video: MIA@SF: Haren shows off arm, bat in win vs. Giants
Maxwell's gem: Right fielder Justin Maxwell denied Giancarlo Stanton of a seventh-inning hit with a sparkling diving catch in right field. It barely influenced the scoring -- Marcell Ozuna followed with a two-run homer -- but it did lengthen Maxwell's list of big hits and startling defensive plays.
Video: MIA@SF: Maxwell robs Stanton with a fine diving catch
Stanton adds insurance: Stanton entered Thursday pacing the Majors with 27 RBIs. The Miami slugger made it 28 with his sacrifice fly to center in the fifth inning. Haren, who singled to start the inning, scored the insurance run on Stanton's scorched liner to center.
Video: MIA@SF: Stanton lifts a sac fly to drive in Haren
Ozuna ends HR drought: Ozuna, who belted 23 homers last year, connected for the first time this season in the seventh inning. The two-run blast off Hudson came on Ozuna's 98th at-bat of the season.
Video: MIA@SF: Ozuna receives silent treatment after homer
QUOTABLE
"We came out really relaxed, after a long night and travel. We swung the bats great. Danny Haren did a great job, not only at the plate, but pitching. He got us on the board early, but most important, we got those shutdown innings." -- Redmond
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
The Marlins have now gone 14-5 at AT&T Park since 2010. "Our guys really like playing here, for whatever reason," Redmond said. "It's a really great atmosphere. It's cool, which is completely different for us. It's just a fun place to play."
WHAT'S NEXT
Marlins: Jarred Cosart has made 45 Major League starts, but none of them against the Giants. That will change Friday when the right-hander takes the mound at AT&T Park for Miami's second of four against San Francisco. Cosart is 1-0 (4.76 ERA) on the road this season.
Giants: Tim Lincecum has the Giants excited about his impressive start, which features a 2.40 ERA after six outings. Lincecum will test his skill Friday night against Miami, which defeated him twice in two outings last year.
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