West, Marlins claim shutout win vs Giants

MIAMI – Sean West did not allow a hit until the seventh inning in his fourth career start and Brett Carroll hit his first career home run to help the Florida Marlins beat Randy Johnson and the San Francisco Giants, 4-0, in the National League on Monday.

West (1-1) allowed one baserunner – a leadoff walk to Andres Torres in the third – through the first six innings. Edgar Renteria then lined a single to left on West’s first pitch of the seventh.

West gave up two hits, one walk and struck out six in eight innings.

Johnson (5-5), pitching on short rest, four days after he earned career victory No. 300 at Washington, allowed three runs, seven hits, three walks and struck out five in five innings.

At St. Louis, Jason Marquis took the NL lead with his eighth win and Troy Tulowitzki homered for the first time in nearly a month to help Colorado complete its first sweep in St. Louis, 5-2.

The last-place Rockies won their season-high fifth in a row – four at Busch Stadium – under new manager Jim Tracy. St. Louis has lost a season-worst four straight.

Clint Barmes had a pair of RBI singles for his sixth consecutive multihit game and Brad Hawpe doubled and had a sacrifice fly in the Rockies’ first sweep of the year.

Colorado last swept the Cardinals in July 1994, winning four straight at Mile High Stadium. The Rockies improved to 7-4 since Tracy took over when Clint Hurdle was fired.

Marquis (8-4) allowed two runs in 6 2-3 innings against the Cardinals, for whom he won 42 games from 2004-06 but never pitched in the postseason.

At Atlanta, David Ross grounded an infield single to deep short that scored Jeff Francoeur and ended a game that lasted almost 5 hours as the Braves beat the Pirates, 7-6, in 15 innings.

Ross hit the grounder to shortstop Jack Wilson, whose throw to the third-base side of home plate pulled catcher Jason Jaramillo’s foot off the plate as Francoeur slid in safely. (AP)