Nolasco shines as Marlins end skid

MIAMI - Ricky Nolasco pitched eight strong innings, surviving a 33-pitch first inning, allowing six hits and one earned run to lead the Florida Marlins to a 3-1 win over the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks in front of 15,291 fans at Dolphin Stadium on Friday night.

The win snapped the Marlins’ four-game losing streak and allowed Florida to inch to within one game of National League East-leading Philadelphia, a 7-6 loser to Texas on Friday night.

Orlando Hudson got the Diamondbacks on the board in the first inning with a sacrifice fly, but Nolasco (8-4) would shutdown Arizona the rest of the way.

The Marlins, one-night after being limited to one hit by Tampa’s Matt Garza, were only able to manage four hits on the night with the big hit being a two-run double by third baseman Jorge Cantu.

Kevin Gregg pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn his 14th save in 18 chances.

The Marlins will look for a series victory when Andrew Miller takes the hill for Florida against Brandon Webb.