--SS Hanley Ramirez was finally caught stealing Sunday -- and it took a perfect throw to the plate to get him. After he doubled and stole third for his ninth consecutive steal of the year, Ramirez was gunned down at home on an attempted double-steal.
Brewers LHP Manny Parra threw a pickoff throw to first as Dan Uggla took off for second. 1B Prince Fielder threw a strike to catcher Mike Rivera who blocked the plate and tagged Ramirez on a close play.
"The only way he can get me like that is with a perfect throw. They made the play," said Ramirez, who fell short of Chuck Carr's record of 15 straight steals to start the 1994 season.
--LHP Scott Olsen, who felt soreness after his start Friday night, felt fine Sunday after throwing a side session in the bullpen. He will make his next start Wednesday against the Dodgers in Miami.
--The Marlins tied the team record for wins in April (15) on Sunday, prompting some players to remind critics that the low-budget team is for real.
"We're not here to finish .500. We're here to go to the playoffs. I think we've got a team to do it," said 1B Wes Helms.
They face a tougher test this week. They open a three-game series against the Dodgers on Tuesday followed by three this weekend against the Padres.
--LHP Renyel Pinto's 1.08 ERA leads NL relievers with at least 16 innings. On Saturday, he gave up a home run to Prince Fielder -- the first run off Pinto in 11 appearances. Pinto faced Fielder again on Sunday and struck the slugger out.
--1B Mike Jacobs wants to return Tuesday but Wednesday looks more likely. Manager Fredi Gonzalez usually likes to give his injured players extra time if he can. Wes Helms, who hit a game-winning homer on Sunday, has played well and should start in Jacobs' place for the next two games.
--The team had lost 30 straight games dating back to last July in which they scored fewer than four runs. Over the weekend in Milwaukee, the Marlins won two games by scores of 3-0 (Friday) and 3-2 (Sunday).
BY THE NUMBERS: 2 -- Home runs, out of 11 he has allowed in 96 career games, hit off LHP Reynel Pinto by left-handed hitters.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Now, I can concentrate on the movements that come with pitching and hitting without really having to exert all that energy into trying to focus. And it has given me some confidence at the plate, obviously." -- LHP Mark Hendrickson, on how offseason Lasik laser-eye surgery has helped him this season. He is 4-1 with a 3.68 ERA and 4-for-14 (.286) batting.
