The last time the Marlins were in first place this late in the season was 2002, and players stars such as Josh Beckett, Derrek Lee and Mike Lowell were leading the charge to the top of the National League East standings.
On Thursday night, it was unheralded players such as Jorge Cantu, Matt Treanor and Logan Kensing who sparked Florida to a 7-2 victory over Milwaukee and into first place alone in the NL East.
''Anytime you can learn to win in different ways that can help a team anytime,'' starting pitcher Mark Hendrickson said.
By sweeping the three-game series at Dolphin Stadium, the Marlins (20-14) equaled the franchise's best start through 34 games. The 2004 Marlins also began the season 20-14.
''We don't talk about being six games over .500 or first place,'' Treanor said. ``Everybody is in a really nice state of mind. We just come to the ballpark and play quality baseball.''
The Marlins were helped into first place by the Arizona Diamondbacks, who knocked the Philadelphia Phillies (20-16) into second place. .
There has been plenty of quality baseball on display at Dolphin Stadium lately.
Cantu -- who came to spring training as a nonroster invitee after being released by the Reds and the Rays the past two years -- gave the Marlins a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning with a two-run home run off Brewers starter Carlos Villanueva that landed in the blue club seats in left field.
CANTU COMES UP BIG
Cantu, a third baseman who also homered Wednesday, hit his fifth home run of the season Thursday, and was 2 for 4 with two RBI.
Cantu also got the Marlins out of a bases-loaded, two-out jam in the third inning when he charged a slow dribbler off the bat of J.J. Hardy and threw to Treanor to get the force out at the plate.
The Marlins were leading 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning when they erupted for four more runs off Villanueva.
With two outs in the fifth, Dan Uggla walked and Luis Gonzalez singled before Wes Helms scored Uggla with a single to make it 4-1.
Treanor then stepped to the plate with six home runs in 566 career at-bats. But he smacked a hanging sinker inside from Villanueva down the left-field line that seemed headed to the same blue club seats Cantu's home run found.
Instead, Treanor's blast hit off the foul-pole screen in left for a three-run home run that extended the Marlins' lead to 7-1.
Treanor was 2 for 3 and had a career-high three RBI.
''The guys know whatever lineup [manager] Fredi [Gonzalez] puts out there we swing the bats and get runs,'' said Treanor, who has six hits in his past 10 at-bats, with five RBI.
Seven runs would have been enough for Hendrickson, who had won his past five decisions since an Opening Day loss, to pick up the victory.
But Hendrickson labored through 4 1/3 innings before being lifted by Gonzalez with a 3-1 lead in top of the fifth inning.
NOTHING WORKED
''Nothing was working,'' said Hendrickson, a left-hander who threw 109 pitches. ``I was fighting, making pitches, but all in all, it was a struggle.''
Gonzalez summoned Kensing, a right-hander, with two Brewers on base and one out to protect a two-run lead. Kensing (1-0) squashed the threat.
Kensing needed just 31 pitches to retire all eight batters he faced in 2 2/3 innings, and struck out four to get the victory.
''Logan did a nice job,'' Gonzalez said. ``He kept us in the ballgame and got us out of a serious jam in the fifth.''
The Marlins, who have won four consecutive games, now meet the Nationals for three games in Washington.
Florida swept Washington earlier this season, and has won five of six games against the Nationals this season.
