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Broken-bat single denies Marlins' Sanchez no-hit bid in ninth
Anibal Sanchez
Anibal Sanchez delivers a pitch during the first inning of a Major League Baseball game against the Colorado Rockies on Friday at Tropicana Field in Miami. Sanchez lost a no-hitter in the ninth on a broken-bat single. - photo by The Associated Press

Delete - MergeMIAMI (AP) — Florida's Anibal Sanchez took a no-hitter into the ninth inning before giving up a broken-bat leadoff single to Colorado's Dexter Fowler, and the Marlins beat the Rockies 4-1 on Friday night.

Sanchez (1-1) struck out nine and allowed one unearned run as he bid for his second career no-hitter before settling for a one-hitter. He walked three, including Fowler to lead off the game. A two-out fielding error by first baseman Gaby Sanchez allowed Fowler to score.

On Sanchez's 116th pitch of the night, Fowler singled to right past second baseman Omar Infante.

Fowler was then doubled up on a lineout by Jonathan Herrera. Carlos Gonzalez grounded out to end the game and seal Sanchez's one-hit gem, the second in the majors this season. Dan Haren of the Los Angeles Angels also had one in a 2-0 victory over Cleveland on April 12.

Gaby Sanchez and Chris Coghlan homered for the Marlins, who won their fourth straight.

With one out in the seventh, Anibal Sanchez took a hard grounder hit by Troy Tulowitzki off his right leg and the ball bounced toward first base. Sanchez alertly ran over to the ball, scooped it up and beat Tulowitzki to the bag for the out. Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez, pitching coach Randy St. Claire, and a trainer went to tend to Sanchez, who stayed in.

He walked the next batter before he struck out Seth Smith looking on a called third strike after starting the at-bat with two straight balls.

With two outs in the eighth, pinch-hitter Jose Lopez lined out to Infante up the middle giving Sanchez a chance to keep the no-hitter alive.

Rockies starter Jhoulys Chacin (3-1) allowed four runs in five innings in the loss.

Sanchez, a 27-year-old right-hander from Venezuela, came into the game 0-1 with a 5.51 ERA in three starts. He was looking for his second career no-hitter after throwing one on Sept. 6, 2006, against the Arizona Diamondbacks during his rookie season in just his 13th start.

Fowler walked to lead off the game and came home to score on a fielding error by Gaby Sanchez following a grounder by Tulowitzki, which would have ended the inning. The Marlins bounced back in the bottom half as Coghlan led off with his second home run of the season.

The Marlins made it 3-1 on a sacrifice fielder's choice by Anibal Sanchez and a groundout by Coghlan.

Gaby Sanchez's home run to left field stretched the Marlins' lead to 4-1.

Meanwhile, Anibal Sanchez was cruising along mixing in an array of pitches, including a curveball, slider, changeup, and cutter to go along with his mid-90s fastball. In the third, he benefited from an inning-ending double play up the middle when Hanley Ramirez fielded the grounder right by second base and threw to first to complete the play.

Sanchez showed his excellence in the sixth when he struck out the side as he got pinch-hitter Ryan Spilborghs swinging, Fowler looking, and Herrera swinging.

Notes: The Marlins have had four no-hitters in team history, the last being Sanchez's five seasons ago. ... It was Coghlan's fifth career leadoff home run. ... Before the game, Marlins IF Ozzie Martinez was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans to replace OF Logan Morrison (left foot sprain), who was placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 20. ... Ramirez found himself in an unusual play in the seventh after he struck out and accidentally sent his bat into the stands. He walked in front of catcher Chris Iannetta's path resulting in Infante being called out attempting to steal second base due to batter interference.