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08/30/2009 5:39 PM EDT
West, Coghlan help Marlins beat Padres 6-4
FLORIDA 6, SAN DIEGO 4

MIAMI(AP) -- Sean West is making the most of his second trip to
the majors this season.

John Baker and Cody Ross each drove in two runs, leading West
and the Florida Marlins over the San Diego Padres 6-4 Sunday and
ending their three-game losing streak.

West (6-5) won for the fourth time in his last five outings at
home. He gave up one earned run in six innings.

This was the third win in five outings for West since being
recalled from Double-A Jacksonville on Aug. 8. He went 3-4 in 10
outings during his first stint with the Marlins from May 23-July
11.

Chris Coghlan's leadoff single started a five-run burst in the
fourth inning that made it 5-3.

Coghlan has 46 hits in August, the most in any month by a
National League rookie since Wally Moon had 52 for the St. Louis
Cardinals in July 1954.

"It's all about winning," Coghlan said. "All that stuff is
individual and right now we're trying to win games and get to
the playoffs and that's the big picture, not how many hits I
get."

West gave up seven hits and struck out seven, tying his
career-high of seven strikeouts last achieved against the New
York Yankees on June 19. Leo Nunez pitched a scoreless ninth for
his 17th save in 21 opportunities.

"Today I tried to do a little more pitching than throwing," West
said. "I wanted to get as deep as I could because our bullpen is
a little worn out."

The Padres took a 3-0 lead in the fourth, helped by West's
error. Oscar Salazar led off with a single, Kevin Kouzmanoff hit
an RBI double and Chase Headley walked. Will Venable bunted and
West threw wildly to first, allowing Kouzmanoff to score. After
West struck out the next two batters, Headley scored from third
on a passed ball by Baker.

The Marlins bounced back in their half to take the lead. After
retiring the first nine batters, Mat Latos (4-4) gave up
consecutive singles to Coghlan and Ross Gload to open the
inning. With one out, Latos walked Jorge Cantu to load the
bases. Baker had a two-run single and Ross added a two-run
double. Latos remains winless in his last four starts.

"One minute you're on top of the world, the next minute you are
down at the bottom," Latos said, who grew up in nearby Margate,
Fla. "I left a couple pitches up and didn't make quality pitches
when I needed to. Give them credit, they are a good hitting team
and when I made mistakes, they hit them."

The Marlins avoided getting swept by the Padres for the first
time since May 13-15, 2005.

"It was a tough weekend for us and today was nice to salvage the
series," Ross said. "We got some timely hitting and some walks
when we needed it and it was a good win for us."

San Diego closed to 5-4 in the eighth when Headley singled,
Adrian Gonzalez had a pinch-hit single and Tony Gwynn Jr. had an
RBI grounder.

Coghlan drew a bases-loaded walk in the eighth from Greg Burke.

"We jumped out to a nice 3-0 lead, Mat was throwing the ball
great, and then they strung an inning together," Padres manager
Bud Black said. "It was a hard-fought game the rest of the way,
we just fell a little short."

NOTES: Gonzalez is still feeling soreness in his left biceps. He
isn't sure exactly when he injured his arm and started feeling
soreness last Friday. ... Salazar finished the series 7 for 10
with a walk. ... Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez is hopeful INF
Nick Johnson, on the 15-day DL with a right hamstring strain,
will be able to rejoin the team during its upcoming road trip.
"Hopefully, we can get him a couple of games next weekend in
(Single A) Jupiter and if he keeps improving he can join us in
New York or Washington," Gonzalez said.