I feel like everytime I make a post game here, the Marlins lose a few more games than they need to, so I don’t want to make too big a deal here. Get in, get out, hope no one notices and the team keeps going (and hope nobody notices that this is mostly just an excuse for me to go to sleep soon because school is just killing me. Oh, hush!)

Josh Johnson showed why he’s one of the top starters in the majors on Wednesday.

Even without his best stuff, the right-hander was good enough to shut down the St. Louis Cardinals.

Cody Ross had three hits and drove in two runs for Florida, which has won 10 of 14 to stay in the playoff race. Ross extended his hitting streak to 11 games, the longest current streak in the NL, and was 5 for 12 in the series.

• Playoff Race

Florida (78-68) moved within four games of wild card-leading Colorado, which was at San Francisco on Wednesday night.

“This is a resilient team,” Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “They forget bad losses quickly and go on to the next game.”

Johnson (15-4) gave up nine hits but allowed just one run in his 23rd quality start of the season. He struck out five and walked none, improving to 3-1 with a 3.14 ERA in his last five starts.

<a href=”http://adlog.com.com/adlog/e/r=15567&s=870109&o=22061%3a22268%3a22966%3a23661%3a&h=cn&p=2&b=59&l=en_US&site=175&pt=6858&nd=23661&pid=&cid=&pp=100&e=&rqid=00c18-ad-e194AB1B2B940FFE&orh=cbssports.com&oepartner=&epartner=&ppartner=&pdom=www.cbssports.com&cpnmodule=&count=&ra=76%2e26%2e10%2e79&pg=&t=2009.09.17.04.27.35&event=58/http://clk.atdmt.com/M0N/go/164152677/direct;wi.300;hi.250;pc.870109/01/2009.09.17.04.27.35″ target=”_blank”><img src=”http://view.atdmt.com/M0N/view/164152677/direct;wi.300;hi.250;pc.870109/01/2009.09.17.04.27.35″/></a>

“They made good contact with the ball,” Johnson said. “I’d throw good pitches and they’d get hits. It was one of those days where I didn’t walk anybody. That was huge for me today.”

The Cardinals rallied in the ninth. Jason LaRue walked with one out and Mark DeRosa followed with a double to left. Gonzalez then replaced Brian Sanches with closer Leo Nunez, whose wildness got the Marlins into more trouble.

Nunez hit Ryan Ludwick and Albert Pujols to force in a run before coaxing Matt Holliday into a game-ending double play for his 22nd save in 28 opportunities.

“I really focused on throwing the fastball low and away,” said Nunez, who had hit only two batters in his previous 68 innings. “I just wanted to get the ground ball and I got it.”

Central-leading St. Louis fell to 1-5 on its nine-game homestand and lost back-to-back series for the first time since June 22-28 against the New York Mets and Minnesota.

Joel Pineiro (14-11) gave up four runs and 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings for St. Louis.

Eight of Florida’s first 10 batters reached safely. John Baker and Ross had RBI singles and Dan Uggla also drove in a run in the first with a fielder’s choice.

Johnson helped himself in the second, leading off with an infield single before eventually coming home on Jorge Cantu’s sacrifice fly.

Julio Lugo had an RBI single in the sixth for St. Louis, which has scored two or fewer runs in four of its last five losses.

“I’m not worried at all about our offense,” St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said. “Good pitching stops good hitting. I really like this club we have.”

I was at work, so I didn’t get to watch it, but I’m bummed Maybin’s slowed down recently. Nice to see JJ pitched well despite not having his best stuff according to the story.
I followed it online and when Pujols came up with the bases juiced down by 4 in the bottom of the ninth, I almost knew what was coming. Hitting him might have been the best thing Nunez has done in weeks.

Josh Johnson wins the award, but like I said, don’t tell anyone. I don’t want to ruin the winning mood.