Anibal Sanchez

The cost-cutting Florida Marlins finalized their big trade with the Mets yesterday, sending slugger Carlos Delgado to New York for first baseman Mike Jacobs and two minor leaguers. Just hours later, the Marlins completed the other big deal they struck this week by shipping ace Josh Beckett, third baseman Mike Lowell and reliever Guillermo Mota to the Boston Red Sox for four prospects. The Mets will also receive $7 million from the Marlins to help cover the $48 million Delgado is owed over the next three seasons.

THE MIAMI MARLINS' spending spree a year ago didn't work, so now they're trying another payroll purge - trading away their biggest stars in one blockbuster deal. Rebranded in a new ballpark at the start of 2012, the Marlins were up to their old ways Tuesday, swapping top names for top prospects. Miami sent All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes, lefthander Mark Buehrle and ace righthander Josh Johnson to the Toronto Blue Jays, a person familiar with the agreement said. The person confirmed the trade to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the teams weren't officially commenting.

The Florida Marlins busted out of their batting slump. The sputtering New York Mets could only watch with envy. Dan Uggla drove in four runs with two homers for the Marlins, who went deep four times and beat visiting New York, 7-2, last night. Chris Coghlan hit the first homer by a lefthanded batter for Florida this season, and Gaby Sanchez also homered. The Marlins totaled more than four runs for the first time in 10 games and scored first for only the second time in the past 14, building a 7-0 lead.

Lance Berkman's second home run in 2 nights overshadowed the 568th of Ken Griffey Jr.'s career and lifted the visiting Houston Astros to a 7-6 win over the Cincinnati Reds last night. With the Astros trailing, 5-4, in the seventh, Berkman lofted an 0-1 pitch from rookie Brad Salmon (0-1) into the seats in leftfield with Craig Biggio on first base. Berkman's homer was his 14th at Great American Ball Park, the most by any opponent. Berkman has 37 career homers and 106 RBI against Cincinnati, his highest totals against any team.

With three big swings, Cody Ross upstaged teammate Anibal Sanchez. Ross tied Florida records with three home runs and seven RBI, while Sanchez (8-2) - in his first start since pitching a no-hitter last week - allowed four hits and struck out eight in seven innings as the Marlins routed the visiting New York Mets, 16-5, last night. "Anibal told me a couple days ago, 'Man, every time I pitch, you hit a home run,' " Ross said. "After the first one I hit tonight, I thought about it and kind of chuckled.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - Fewer than 5,000 fans dotted the stands at muggy Sun Life Stadium when Anibal Sanchez threw the first pitch at 7:10 p.m., and there was every sense it would be one of those nights Wednesday. The Phillies had a charter flight waiting in Fort Lauderdale to take them home, but first they had to endure this game, a 7-6 loss to the hapless Marlins. The Phillies blew a 4-0 lead, a 5-3 lead, a 6-3 lead and then finally lost it in the 10th inning when Mike Stanton mashed a Danys Baez curveball that flew over the leftfield fence in mere seconds.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - Fewer than 5,000 fans dotted the stands at muggy Sun Life Stadium when Anibal Sanchez threw the first pitch at 7:10 p.m. Wednesday, and there was every sense it would be one of those nights. The Phillies had a charter flight waiting in Fort Lauderdale to take them home, but first they had to endure this game, a 7-6 loss to the hapless Marlins. The aftermath was an angered starting pitcher, a sheepish rookie, and a perturbed manager. The Phillies blew a four-run lead and finally lost it in the 10th inning when Mike Stanton mashed a Danys Baez curveball that flew past the left-field fence in mere seconds.

VIERA, Fla. - Florida Marlins first baseman Mike Jacobs agrees with Jimmy Rollins. "The Phillies are the team to beat," he said, sizing up the National League East one recent day. "They've got a nice starting rotation, and they can slug it. The Mets will swing the bats, but I don't think they have the pitching depth. The Braves are solid as usual. But the Phillies have the pitching and the lineup. " Despite his praise for the Phillies, Jacobs wouldn't count out his own team. And he shouldn't.

The Florida Marlins have won two World Series, but never a National League East title. Both their World Series championships came in years when they won the NL wild card. This could be the year the Marlins win the East. Of course, few would have believed that possible when the season began. Over the winter, the Marlins traded third baseman Miguel Cabrera and pitcher Dontrelle Willis to Detroit for prospects. The Marlins weren't expected to do much, especially with a season-opening payroll of $21.8 million, the lowest in the majors.

SAN FRANCISCO - Anibal Sanchez threw a five-hitter for another complete game in San Francisco, leading the Florida Marlins to a 1-0 win Thursday over a Giants team still stunned by the loss of cleanup hitter Buster Posey. A day after the star catcher sustained a broken lower left leg when Scott Cousins crashed into him at the plate, the Marlins finished off a three-game sweep. Cousins, who lives in the Bay Area, did not play. "The sweep here against a good team is great," Florida manager Edwin Rodriguez said.