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June 11. 2012 10:45PM

Slumping Red Sox upended by Marlins


Boston Red Sox outfielder Scott Podsednik (26) slides into second base safely as Miami Marlins second baseman Donovan Solano (17) is late on the tag during the first inning at Marlins Park. (Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE)
MIAMI — Josh Johnson allowed one run in seven innings as the Miami Marlins snapped a six-game losing streak with a 4-1 over the Boston Red Sox on Monday.

Rookie Donovan Solano drove in two runs and Gaby Sanchez knocked in one for the Marlins.

Former Marlin Josh Beckett fell to 4-7, allowing four runs in seven innings in his first start against his former club. Beckett went 41-34 with 103 starts for the Marlins from 2001-05 and was the 2003 World Series MVP.

Boston has lost seven of eight.

Johnson (4-4) struck out seven, gave up four hits and walked one as he improved to 6-0 in his last nine interleague starts.

Scott Podsednik had three hits and scored Boston’s lone run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Adrian Gonzalez, cutting the deficit to 4-1.

Steve Cishek pitched a scoreless eighth, and Heath Bell struck out the side in the ninth for his 13th save in 16 opportunities.

The Marlins elected to open the roof in hopes of reversing their fortunes at home as they had lost six straight on the nine-game home stand before Monday.

“This is the perfect night to have done it,” Marlins president David Samson said. “I wish we didn’t need a slump-buster, but this was sort of our version of a slump buster — the rated-G version.”

The Marlins entered the day 2-2 with the roof open in their new ballpark. The temperature was 79 degrees under clear skies at the start of the game.

“The danger of this strategy is that we win and all of a sudden we hear from the man upstairs (owner Jeffrey Loria), who says that the roof will now be open at all times, bring your umbrellas,” Samson said.

Their plan worked initially as the Marlins scored three runs in the first, giving them only their second lead following an inning during the losing streak.

Jose Reyes led off with a triple off Beckett and scored on a sacrifice fly by Solano. Giancarlo Stanton singled and scored on a double off the right-field wall by Logan Morrison as Adrian Gonzalez’s bobble allowed Stanton to narrowly slide in safely at home. Gaby Sanchez’s single scored Morrison for a 3-0 lead.

Solano extended the lead to 4-0 with an RBI single in the second, scoring John Buck.

Johnson allowed the first two runners to reach base, but then settled down retiring 14 of 15.

Red Sox starter Jon Lester felt like he was living in a Bill Murray comedy film following Sunday’s 4-3 loss to the Washington Nationals at Fenway Park.

Lester frustrated

Lester threw 107 pitches and gave the Red Sox a quality start only to get his third straight no-decision and second during his team’s disastrous 1-5 homestand.

The left-hander went seven innings and allowed three runs on six hits with nine strikeouts and two walks. He remained stuck at 3-4 in 13 starts while his ERA dipped to 4.57.

“It seems like it’s just ‘Groundhog Day,’ every day,” said Lester. “In every start for me I just can’t seem to get a break. I can speak for myself that it aggravates (me). I hate going out there and losing regardless if I’m pitching or not. I know guys (in the clubhouse) are frustrated and rightly so.”

Injury updates

On Monday, Red Sox outfielder Cody Ross tested the degree to which his left foot fracture has healed by running on the field at Marlins Park.

The verdict?

“He thought he should skip the rehab (assignment),” Bobby Valentine said with a smile.

That won’t happen, of course. Ross hasn’t played a game for the Red Sox since fouling a pitch off his foot May 18 in Philadelphia. And so, before he’s activated from the disabled list, he will have to complete a short minor league rehab assignment.

In other injury news, lefty reliever Rich Hill’s visit to Dr. James Andrews has yielded a diagnosis. Hill has a strained flexor muscle in his elbow, according to Valentine, and likely will miss a month. That’s a bad break for Hill, who returned in late April after recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery and posted a 2.63 ERA in 17 appearances.

Meanwhile, right-hander Aaron Cook (lacerated left knee) has rejoined the team in Miami to throw a bullpen session.

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