--CF Cody Ross was out of the starting lineup after going 2-for-13 with eight strikeouts in three games at St. Louis over the weekend. But he helped the Marlins make history with a pinch-hit home run in the eighth inning.

The home run was Ross' 20th, marking the first time in team history five players have hit 20 home runs in a season. The others are 1B Mike Jacobs (who hit his 31st in the third inning), 2B Dan Uggla (30), SS Hanley Ramirez (29) and 3B Jorge Cantu (23).

--C John Baker's throwing error in the first inning snapped a season-long string of seven errorless games for the Marlins.

--C Matt Treanor was available Monday in emergency, but the team planned to avoid using him. Treanor left Sunday's game in the second inning after fouling a ball off his left knee.

--Monday was the 10th anniversary of Mark McGwire's 62nd home run, which broke Roger Maris' record. McGwire's mark was surpassed by Barry Bonds' 73. Both marks are under suspicion in the wake of allegations over performance-enhancing drug use.

With that in mind, 1B Mike Jacobs felt good about reaching 30 home runs Sunday for the first time in his career.

"Anytime you hit 30 home runs in a year is pretty big," he said. "Guys are not hitting 60 and 70 anymore. It has kind of backed down to 30, 35. When you can do that, it's huge."

--About this time a year ago, the Phillies were seven games out of first place with 17 games to go before they overtook the Mets and won the NL East title. Two current Marlins remember that well, although one wishes he could forget it.

"It was definitely very draining," said C Paul Lo Duca, who was with the Mets last year. "It was our division to win and we just got flat out beat. I don't know if I've ever gotten over it."

IF Wes Helms, with the Phillies last year, reminds his current Marlins teammates that the Phillies' September '07 rally should inspire them to believe there's still time. "We never thought we were out of it. It was fun to come back from that deficit and go to the playoffs," Helms said.

Of course, the Marlins have a tougher challenge: They're 8 1/2 games out with 18 to go, but with two teams in front of them, the Phillies and first-place Mets.

BY THE NUMBERS: 1 -- Pitchers on the Marlins' staff with double-digit wins through Sept. 5, Ricky Nolasco (13).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Obviously, they're not going to pay everybody; we all know that." -- LHP Scott Olsen, on Florida's 18 arbitration-eligible players this winter.