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Adrian Gonzalez
insists he takes no extra pleasure in playing well against the team that drafted him.
Yet, the first overall pick from 2000 is one of the reasons the
San Diego Padres
can complete a three-game sweep of the
Florida Marlins
on Thursday.
Gonzalez went 4-for-5 with two RBIs in Wednesday's 7-2 victory, posting RBI singles in the third and sixth innings.
The Marlins traded Gonzalez to the
Texas Rangers
during their run to the 2003 World Series title, and the 23-year-old first baseman was acquired by the Padres (3-4) in January
as part of a six-player trade.
''I don't care who the opponent is. I want the opportunity to play every day and know you'll be in the lineup whether you
go 0-for-4 or have a day like I did today,'' said Gonzalez. ''It's easier on yourself when you know that regardless of what
you do, you'll be in the lineup in the same place. It gives you confidence and lets your ability take over.''
Gonzalez is hitting .393 (11-for-28) this season and has scored at least one run in four consecutive games. Padres manager
Bruce Bochy
is hoping for the same type of performance on a consistent basis from the rookie, who will be in the lineup for at least the
next two months while
Ryan Klesko
recovers from shoulder surgery.
''Adrian has an opportunity, and he's taking full advantage of it,'' Bochy said. ''We're excited to have him, and he's excited
to have that opportunity. He looks like a man on a mission.''
Dewon Brazelton
will try to bounce back from a disastrous season debut after getting tagged for nine runs and 11 hits in just 2 1-3 innings
of a 12-4 defeat Saturday to the
Colorado Rockies
. The right-hander, though, claimed one of his eight career victories against the Marlins while pitching for the
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
.
Brazelton defeated the Marlins in 2004, allowing six walks and one hit over 7 2-3 scoreless innings. He allowed two runs and
four hits in 1 2-3 innings in a relief appearance against them last season.
San Diego has not swept a three-game series from Florida since Aug. 11-13, 2000.
Florida (1-6) has lost five consecutive games, and rookie manager
Joe Girardi
thinks some of his young players are pressing too much.
''The first seven games are obviously not what we want,'' Girardi said. ''Could have been better; could have been worse. ...
I think guys are trying to do too much. They're so anxious to get off to a good start and prove they belong here.''
Miguel Cabrera
homered on Wednesday for Florida, which is off to its worst start since going 1-11 in 1998 en route to a 54-108 record. After
drawing more than 31,000 for their home opener, the Marlins had an attendance of 8,994 fans for Wednesday's defeat.
Jason Vargas
sets out to lower Florida's staff ERA of 5.31, hoping to have better control than in his season debut Friday. The left-hander
yielded five runs and eight hits while walking three in five innings of Florida's 9-3 loss to the
New York Mets
, throwing only 52 of 94 pitches for strikes.
Vargas lost his only lifetime start against the Padres last season, giving up three runs, four hits and five walks in 5 1-3
innings of a 4-2 defeat at home Aug. 16.
Marlins rookie shortstop
Hanley Ramirez
has hit safely in all seven games, going 11-for-25 (.440) with four doubles and two triples.
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