South Florida Sun Sentinel from Fort Lauderdale, Florida • 33

SB Thursday, June 19,2008 SUN-SENTINELCOM SOUTH FLORIDA 3C TODAY MON 23 i I FRI 20 OAK 10:05 SAT 21 OAK 9:05 TUE 24 TB 7:10 SUN 22 OAK 4:05 TV: SUN THU 26 TB 12:10 NO TV SAT 28 ARI 7:10 TV: SUN WED 25 TB 7:10 FRI 27 ARI 7:10 SUN 29 ARI 1:10 MON 30 WAS 7:10 WED 2 WAS 12:10 TUE 1 WAS 7:10 TV: SUN Home games at Dolphin Stadium. TicketsInfo: 1 -877-MARUNS or www.floridamarlins.com Winning tames even the most irascible Cub i i With his Cubs sporting the majors' best record, Lou Piniella is in a forgiving mood. Mark Cuban and a handful of others queue up to buy one of the most popular brands in sports, Piniella lets a few close losses roll off his back, all the while keeping a watchful eye on the big prize. The one that has eluded him every year since his Reds shocked the A's in 1990. The one that has eluded Cubs fans for the past century.

The one that could vault Piniella from cult-hero status to sporting immortality. "Just play," he says. "We get after it every day, and we do the best that we can. Lose a ballgame, come back out there the next day and do your darndest to win it. That's all you can do.

That's all I can expect." Did we mention the Cubs have the best record in ST. Petersburg For a few minutes there, one might have wondered if the real Lou Pi-niella had been abducted by aliens. Who was this empty vessel making nice with his inquisitors and brushing aside every chance to rip into the Cubs players who had just botched a one-run loss to the Rays? Yes, the same Rays for whom Pi-niella spent three maddening years in the dugout. "Good game, exciting game," Piniella offers after his Cubs leave the tying run at third to end a frustrating night at Tropicana Field. "Place was packed for a Tuesday night.

Good to see." What about starter Ryan Dempster needing 107 pitches just to get through five in-. nings? "Pitch one-run ball for five innings, you've got to be pleased," Piniella says. Any problem with Reed Johnson making the last out of the seventh trying to steal was no time to rip into a team that has been giving its manager everything he could ask for and had just stopped off in rainy Cooperstown on its way here from Toronto. As the rest of the baseball world marks the Cubs' title-free centennial, those inside the clubhouse haven't wasted much time worrying about it. They've been too busy winning.

They haven't lost a series since Memorial Day, haven't lost more than two straight games all year. Check the stats: The Cubs lead the league in runs and batting average, on-base per- centageandERA. "Their pitching numbers are ridiculous," Rays manager Joe Maddon says. "They do a lot of things right." In catcher Geovany Soto, they have a top candidate for Rookie of the Year. In Dempster and Carlos Zambrano, they have a potent 1-2 punch atop the rotation.

In broken left hand, but nobody seems to be panicking. This, too, seems very un-Cub-like. "We've got enough people here that can get the job done," Piniella says. "I'm comfortable. It's just a question of how we use them." There has been adversity, Piniella notes, but each time General Manager Jim Hendry has gone out and gotten him -another piece.

When Felix Pie failed to hit again the Cubs signed fading veteran Jim Edmonds. That won't be the last big-name addition, not with a century's worth of pain driving this train, not with Hendry's cell phone permanently attached to his ear. Already, the Web sites are burning up with Cubs-related rumors. So far they have been linked to A.J. Burnett, Greg Maddux, Gil Meche, Erik Bedard and Randy Wolf and those are just the starters.

So as John Canning and third? "No problem with it," the kindly skipper says. "He just got a bad jump." How about Johnson's odd decision to bunt on his own, only to see the Rays' Evan Longoria make a barehanded play to end the game? "I didn't call the bunt," niella says with a weary smirk. "He probably thought he could get the third baseman napping a little bit." And then it hits you: Even with this narrow loss, these Cubs still have the best record in baseball, not to mention a solid lead in the National -J League Central. Sure, Piniella has mellowed considerably at age 64, but even the fiercest volcanoes must pick their spots. And this Jason Marquis, Ted Lilly and Sean Gallagher (St.

Thomas Aquinas), they have starting depth. In closer convert Kerry Wood, they have a dominating presence at the end of games. In Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez, they have boppers at the corner infield spots. "We've got some real nice pieces here," Piniella says almost halfway through Year 2 with the Cubs. And for once in Wrigleyville, those pieces seem to fit.

"We've got chemistry," Piniella says. "The team is playing with confidence." Alfonso Soriano will miss a few more weeks with that MikeBerardinocanbe reached at MARLINS NOTEBOOK MARLINS' LATE TUESDAY RECAP 123456789 RHE Marlins 0 I 1 0 0 I 0 2 1 1 0 0 4 6 2 Mariners 2 I 0 I 0 i 2 1 1 I 0 I 0 I 0 I I 5 13 1 NOo 1 pick agrees to dea LATE GAME The Marlins-Mariners game Wednesday night wasn't over in time for this edition. For the result and wrap-up, visit HOW THEY SCORED 1ST INNING Mariners: Suzuki singled. Lopez doubled, Suzuki scored. Vidro struck out.

Beltre singled, Lopez to third. Ibanez singled to right, Lopez scored. Mariners 2, Marlins 0. 2ND INNING Marlins: With one out, Uggla homered to left. Mariners 2, Marlins 1.

4TH INNING Mariners: Johjima walked. Bloomquist singled, Johjima to second. Betancourt sacrificed, Johjima to third, Bloomquist to second. Suzuki hit a sacrifice fly to right, Johjima scored, Bloomquist to third. Lopez doubled, Bloomquist scored.

Mariners 4, Martins 1. 5TH INNING ed into fielder's choice, Beltre out. Sexson singled, Ibanez to second. Kensing pitch- ing. Johjima safe on fielder's choice and Kensing's error, Ibanez scored.

Mariners 5, Marlins 1, 6TH INNING Marlins: Treanor singled. Amezaga singled, TTeanor to second. Ramirez infield single, Treanor to third, Amezaga to second. Hermida singled, Treanor scored, Amezaga to third, Ramirez to second. Cantu hit a sacrifice fly to left, Amezaga scored.

Mariners 5, Marlins 3. 7TH INNING Martins: Gonzalez doubled. On Bloom-quist's error, Gonzalez to third. Helms grounded out to third. Treanor hit a sacrifice fly to left, Gonzalez scored.

Mariners 5, Marlins 4. The Marlins struck out 1 3 times in each of the first two games of the series against the Mariners. Pitching for the Cubs, La-Troy Hawkins achieved an immaculate inning against the Marlins on Sept. 11,2004, when he struck out Jeff Conine, Juan Encarnacion and Alex Gonzalez. Bl 68 SO AVG 1 1 1 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 3 1 0.10 .293 .295 .210 .233 .270 .219 .207 .224 .211 .280 Mariners: Beltre singled.

Ibanez ground- FLORIOA AB Bl BB SO AVG HRamirezss 4 0 1 0 0 1 .290 Hermida rf 3 0 1 1 1 1 .269 Cantu 1b 3 0 0 1 0 2 .285 Jacobs dh 3 0 0 0 0 2 .238 CRoss ph-dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 .216 Uggla 2b 4 1 1 1 0 3 .288 LGonzalez If 4 1 1 0 0 0 .274 Helms 3b 4 0 0 0 0 2 .242 TreanofC .2 1 1 1 0 0 .252 Amezaga cf 3 1 1 0 0 1 .242 TOTAIS 31 4 6 4 1 13 PITCHERS IP ER BB SO NP ERA 4'A 11 5 4 1 2 89 3.51 Kensing 1 0 0 0 0 1 25 4 01 Waectiter 2 2 0 0 0 1 25 3.00 0 0 Bonus baby 10 0 1 1 2 0 SEATTLE ISuzuki rf JoLopez 2b Vidro dh Beltre 3b Ibanez If Sexson 1b Cairo lb johima Bloomquist cf YBetancourtss TOTALS PITCHERS Hernandez 6-5 SGreen 5 Rhodes 5 Morrow 2 0 1 0 5 13 4 IP ER BB SO NP ERA 714 6 4 3 1 9 107 2.87 0 0 0 0 1 4 3.23 0 0 0 0 1 3 4.63 1 0 0 0 0 2 10 0.90 Skipworthwill start in Gulf Coast League BY JUAN C. RODRIGUEZ STAFF WRITER Seattle The Marlins have agreed to terms with first-round draft pick Kyle Skip-worth pending a physical, according to a source who has spoken with club officials. Skipworth, a catcher out of Patriot High School in Riverside, whom the Marlins selected sixth overall, is on his way to South Florida where he is expected to undergo a medical workup today. An announcement could come as soon as Friday. Skipworth should be in uniform with the Marlins' Gulf Coast League rookie ball affiliate sometime this weekend.

Though Skipworth signed a letter-of-intent to attend Arizona State, from the outset he said he didn't anticipate any issues to emerge during contract negotiations, which began before the Marlins selected him. "I was blown away," Skip-worth said on draft day earlier this month. "I'm very happy with it. My family is very happy with it. We're extremely close to a deal." The signing bonus should be around $2.4 million.

The6-foot-3, 195-pound Skipworth hit .584 with 12 homers and 44 RBI his senior season and got a state-record 18 hits in as many plate appearances. According to Baseball America, the highest pick to sign so far is prep outfielder Aaron Hicks, whom the Twins selected 14th overall. Hicks received a 1 .78 million signing bonus. Three other first-round selections have agreed to terms since the draft. Uggla (6), Kensing (2), Bloomquist (1).

LOB Florida 3, Seattle 10. 2B LGonzalez (12), JoLopez 2 (18), Ibanez (19). HR Uggla (20), off FHernandez. RBls Hermida (33), Cantu (41), Uggla (50). Treanor (13), ISuzuki (19), JoLopez 2 (35), Ibanez (42).

YBetancourt. SF Cantu, Treanor, ISuzuki. GIDP YBetancourt. Runners left in scoring position Florida Seattle 4. DP Florida 1.

Inherited runners-scored Kensing 2-1, SGreen 1-0, Rhodes 1-0. 2:36. A 20,214 MARLINS STATISTICS Cantu shouldn't have trouble meeting all four incentive clauses in his contract. He stands to collect an additional $100,000 over his $500,000 base salary if he totals 400 plate appearances. Entering Wednesday's game he was nearly half way there with 298.

Cantu already met the first incentive clause, which called for a $25,000 bonus for 250 plate appearances. The minorleague deal he signed also calls for $25,000 each for 300, 350 and 400 plate appearances. Hammer on deck, Gonzalez and President of Baseball Operations Larry Beinf est said they anticipate Josh Willingham will rejoin the team Tuesday, when the Marlins open a nine-game homestand against the Rays. Staying put According to the News Star in Monore, shortstop Ben Soignier, the Marlins' 1 7th-round draft pick out of Louisiana-Monroe, will return to school for his senior season. NO CONTACT: Cody Ross kicks his bat after striking out Tuesday, one of 1 3 Marlins strikeouts in the 5-4 loss to the Mariners.

AP photoJohn Froschauer Through Tuesday BATTERS AVG OBP AB 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS Willingham .341 .406 91 16 31 5 2 6 16 9 16 2 0 0 Ramirez .290 .375 276 58 80 9 3 15 32 35 69 16 5 11 Uggla .288 .367 257 54 74 23 1 20 50 30 83 4 1 6 Cantu .285 .332 274 43 78 17 0 14 41 20 52 2 2 14 Gonzalez .274 .356 197 20 54 12 1 5 27 26 25 1 2 3 Hermida' .269 .330 245 37 66 13 2 6 33 19 59 2 0 4 Treanor .252 .302 147 12 37 6 0 1 13 9 38 1 0 6 Helms .242 .308 120 17 29 8 0 4 20 9 35 0 0 2 Amezaga .242 .307 149 18 36 7 2 1 8 13 21 2 1 1 Jacobs .238 .273 206 28 49 11 1 16 43 11 54 1 0 4 ROSS .216 .277 148 18 32 7 1 11 28 13 28 4 0 0 Rabelo .206 .250 102 9 21 1 0 3 10 6 24 0 1 1 Andlnq .174 .296 23 4 4 0 0 2 3 4 15 0 01 TOTALS .255 .318 2422 347 617 122 15 104 333 216 602 35 12 63 PITCHERS ERA GS SV IP ER HR BB SO Nelson 0 0 1.69 11 0 0 102 7 2 2 1 2 14 Pinto 1 2 2 23 36 0 0 40 1 28 10 10 4 24 32 Gregg 5 2 2 41 32 0 12 33 2 20 12 9 1 20 26 Waechter 0 1 300 20 0 0 36 0 27 12 12 2 14 28 Olsen 4 4 3 51 15 15 0 92.1 84 45 36 12 36 50 Kensing 3 1 4.01 27 0 0 33.2 27 15 15 5 21 29 111. Miller 2 2 4:05 31 0 0 33.1 31 19 15 3 13 35 Nolasco 7 4 435 15 13 0 80.2 83 44 39 14 27 55 Llndstrom 1 1 4.70 29 0 0 23 0 29 13 12 0 14 18 A. Miller 5 5 4.87 15 15 0 77.2 89 46 42 5 33 62 tucker 1 1 5.40 2 2 0 1O0 9 6 6 0 8 8 Hendrickson 7 5 5.74 15 15 0 80.0 92 57 51 10 33 49 Badenhop 2 3 6.08 13 8 0 47,1 55 34 32 7 21 35 TOTALS 38 33 4.44 71 71 12 630.0 427 345 311 70 285 465 Jacobs. The last pitcher to do it was Athletics right-hander RichHardenonJune8 against the Angels. It just so happens the Marlins face Harden on Friday at McAfee Coliseum, prompting manager Fredi Gonzalez to joke: "Maybe he'll do it again." About Hernandez, Gonzalez said: "That guy was good.

You hear about guys touching 95 or 96. He pitched at 95 the whole game." Rare feat Highlighting Felix Hernandez's 7'3-inning performance in the Mariners' 5-4 win over the Marlins late Tuesday night was the 42nd immaculate inning in baseball history. An immaculate inning refers to a pitcher striking out the side on nine pitches. Hernandez did it in the fourth inning when he got Jeremy Hermida, Jorge Cantu and Mike AROUND THE LEAGUE SPOTLIGHT GAME: RAYS 5, CUBS 4 n1 brewers: Prince Fielder owes more than $400,000 in unpaid taxes, according to a published report. The Brewers' slugger declined comment on the report through a team spokesman before Wednesday night's game against Toronto.

An IRS spokesman told The Associated Press that Fielder could have made payments or even paid It off, but that It might not be recorded yet. The Detroit News' Tax Watchdog blog published Tuesday a copy of the IRS' Notice of Federal Tax Lien filed against Fielder In 2005. It was addressed to a residence In his hame in Melbourne and noted he owed a total of $409,149.14. Fielder received a $2.4 million signing bonus after being the Brewers' top pick In the 2002 draft. Tampa Bay bullpen stymies Chicago Fielder when he struck out Derrek Lee and got Aramis Ramirez to fly out to strand runners at first and third.

The Rays' bullpen limited the Cubs to one run and three hits over the last 4'3 innings of Tampa Bay's 3-2 victory in the series opener. This time, J.P. Howell and Dan Wheeler held Chicago in check until Troy Percival closed it out in the ninth. Percival earned his 17th save in 19 opportunities to tie Hall of FamerRollie Fingers for ninth place on the career list with an Longoria and Willy Aybar drove in runs off Carlos Zam-brano during Tampa Bay's four-run third inning, helping the Rays clinch their ninth consecutive series at home. Zambrano (8-3) lost for just the second time in his last nine decisions.

He allowed five runs and seven hits in 6 innings, departing after throwing 100 pitches. The Cubs later said he was lifted because of right shoulder discomfort. With 42 wins, the Rays have matched their club record for victories before the All-Star break. They were42-45 atthe break under Piniella in 2004 and wound up winning a fran-Ichise-best 70 games. The Cubs scored twice in the third and once in the fifth off Sonnanstine (8-3), who allowed six hits and kept the Rays in front by only giving up one run after Chicago loaded the bases on a double and two walks with no out in the fifth.

Ryan Theriot, who drove in a run with a third-inning single, trimmed Tampa Bay's lead to 5-3 when he grounded into a force play at second. Sonnanstine avoided further damage WIRE REPORTS, ST. PETERSBURG Good pitching, solid defense and timely hitting is a winning combination the surprising Tampa Bay Rays rarely put together when they were managed by Lou Piniella. Andy Sonnanstine allowed three runs in five-plus innings, and Tampa Bay's improved bullpen shut down their old manager's Chicago Cubs for the second straight game in a 5-4 victory on Wednesday night. B.J.

Upton, Eric Hinske, Ev RAVESt LHP Mike Gonzalez was removed from the disabled list by Atlanta, 13 months after ligament replacement surgery on his left elbow, and may be moved into the closer's role. "It's great to be back," Gonzalez said "I've been working for a year, two weeks and three days." RHP Phil Stockman was optioned to Triple-A Richmond to make room for Gonzalez, whose elbow surgery was on May 31, 2007. reds. RHP Homer Bailey was sent back to the minors, Cincinnati's latest attempt to turn around their prized prospect. The Reds also activated OF Norrls Hopper from the disabled list.

In three starts this season, the 22-year-old Bailey went 0-3 with an 8.76 ERA. rangers AL batting leader Milton Bradley was out of Texas' lineup against Atlanta because of a strained left quadriceps. Rangers manager Ron Washington said he expects Bradley to be available for today's series finale against the Braves. YANKEES! New York re-signed troubled RHP Sidney Ponson to a minor league contract. Ponson was released Monday by the pltchlng-starved Texas Rangers for being a disruption to the team.

He performed well on the mound, however, going 4-1 with a 3.88 ERA. In other news, Hidekl Matsul was out of the Yankees' starting lineup against San Diego because of a swollen left knee..