San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Dan Uggla and Mike Stanton homered to back the strong pitching of Ricky Nolasco, as Florida held on for a 4-3 win over the San Francisco Giants to open a four-game set.
Nolasco (11-7) allowed four hits, a run, walked a batter and had seven strikeouts to win for the sixth time in his last seven starts.
Stanton drove in two and Leo Nunez surrendered a run in the ninth, but left the potential tying tally at third for his 24th save, as the Marlins posted their eighth win in 10 games.
Barry Zito (8-6) permitted eight hits and three runs over 6 1/3 innings and suffered his first career loss when facing Florida. Zito, who had been 5-0 in six starts vs. the Marlins, had three strikeouts.
Aaron Rowand belted a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the seventh inning, but the Giants had a four-game winning streak broken and lost for just the fourth time in their last 19 contests. Buster Posey extended his hitting streak to 19 games, the second-longest by a rookie in San Francisco-era history behind Hall of Famer Willie McCovey's 22-gamer in 1959.
Uggla homered to left in the fourth inning and Stanton hit Zito's first pitch of the fifth over the wall in left-center. It became 3-0 in the sixth when Uggla scored on a Cody Ross sacrifice fly on a nice sliding catch by Andres Torres in right-center field.
Pat Burrell walked with one out in the seventh. Rowand, pinch-hitting for Travis Ishikawa, sent Taylor Tankersley's 0-1 pitch over the wall in left field. Emilio Bonifacio jumped at the fence, but the ball was caught by fan with a glove at the top of the wall. Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez argued that the fan interfered, but after umpires went into the clubhouse for a replay, the evidence wasn't strong enough to overturn the home run call.
Ross scored on Stanton's double to center in the eighth and Nunez survived the ninth. Rowand and Freddy Sanchez singled to start the frame. Pinch-hitter Ryan Rohlinger put down a successful sacrifice bunt, and one run scored on Torres' groundout. First baseman Gaby Sanchez knocked down the ball on a diving stop and flipped to Nunez for the out. Edgar Renteria struck out to end the game and had to be thrown out at first base by catcher Ronny Paulino.
It was the first pinch-hit homer of Rowand's career...Former Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula was in attendance...Before Monday, Zito had allowed one home run (2007) to the Marlins...After the game, the Marlins placed outfielder Chris Coghlan on the 15-day disabled list with torn meniscus in his right knee. They also called up first baseman Logan Morrison from Triple-A New Orleans...The Marlins moved above .500 (50-49) for the first time since June 3.