Leyland Angry After Loss

It’s only the second week of the season, but Jim Leyland has seen enough.

After Florida’s sixth consecutive loss Monday, an 8-5 defeat by Milwaukee, Leyland said he will send Felix Heredia, 21, back to the bullpen and try a four-man rotation, three of them rookies.

Heredia (0-2) gave up seven runs--five earned--in 4 2/3 innings, leaving him with an 8.38 earned-run average for two starts.

He was victimized by Jeff Cirillo’s club record-tying three doubles, and by an errant throw by Florida shortstop Edgar Renteria that resulted in two unearned runs.

“I’m going to start getting a little angry if those things continue,” Leyland said. “It’s a reflection on myself and the coaches. It makes it look like we’re not prepared, and I take the responsibility for that.”

The Milwaukee win completed the first four-game sweep the Marlins have suffered in their six-year history.

Pittsburgh 4, New York 2--The Pirates were ahead, 2-0, in the fourth inning and Keith Osik was on first base, with Mets’ first baseman John Olerud playing behind the bag when Bobby Jones threw over in a pickoff play.

Umpire Frank Pulli called a balk, saying Olerud wasn’t close enough to the bag and a pitcher can’t throw over to first without a teammate ready there to catch the ball.

Met Manager Bobby Valentine argued vociferously enough to be ejected.

Osik took third on a grounder and scored on Tony Womack’s single, giving the Pirates a 3-0 lead in support of Francisco Cordova (2-0), who struck out eight in seven innings.

Chicago 3, Montreal 2--Pitcher Mark Clark drove in the go-ahead run with a two-out single in the sixth inning for the Cubs, who won at home and have six consecutive victories.

Montreal is the only winless team in the majors at 0-6, its worst start ever.

Houston 13, Colorado 4--Jeff Bagwell drove in three runs with a grounder and two-run homer, and the Astros overcame five hits by Dante Bichette to win at home.

Houston, which outhit the Rockies, 15-13, won three of four games against Colorado, outscoring the Rockies, 37-13, and outhitting them, 51-38.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

BESTS

BATTING

* Dante Bichette, Colorado

5 for 5, 2 RBIs, 1 home run in 13-4 loss to Houston.

* Jeff Cirillo, Milwaukee

4 for 5, club record-tying 3 2Bs in 8-5 win over Florida.

* Jeff Bagwell, Houston

2 for 5, 3 RBIs, 1 home run in 13-4 victory over Colorado.

* Bernard Gilkey, New York

3 for 4, 2 doubles in a 4-2 loss to Pittsburgh.

PITCHING

* Carlos Perez, Montreal

8 innings, 9 hits, 2 earned runs, 4 strikeouts in 3-2 loss to Chicago.

* Mark Clark, Chicago

8 innings, 6 hits, 2 runs, 4 strikeouts, game-winning hit in 3-2 win over Montreal.

* Francisco Cordova, Pittsburgh

7 innings, 5 hits, 2 runs, 8 strikeouts in 4-2 win over New York.