Dan

Uggla

The homer was his seventh of the season, allowing Uggla to set the Marlins’ record for homers in a season by a second basemen. That it took 14 years for even a second basemen to hit seven homers is pretty impressive. In addition to the homers, Uggla is batting .310 with 39 runs scored and four steals.

Uggla hasn’t gotten much time off this season. If he receives a break tomorrow, the Marlins will likely use Alfredo Amezaga at second base, giving Reggie Abercrombie a start in center field.

Uggla has been perhaps the biggest rookie surprise in the NL by batting .314 with 12 homers, 48 runs scored, and 42 RBI. His OPS for the Marlins this year (893) is higher than what he posted in Double-A last season (880).

There’s now a four-way tie for the most homers among NL rookies. Uggla, Prince Fielder, Ryan Zimmerman and Josh Willingham all have nine. Uggla leads the way with 35 RBI after today, though Zimmerman and Willingham are only one behind. Fielder has 33 RBI.

Uggla is 37-for-99 with nine extra-base hits this month. He’s unlikely to continue batting .319, but Uggla should provide value while hitting another 8-10 homers this season.

''When you talk about hamstrings, you tend to be on the safe side,’' trainer Sean Cunningham said. ``You don’t want something to become a chronic thing. It can become a nagging thing the whole year and then it becomes chronic. That’s the last thing I want.’' Uggla hasn’t played in eight days.

Uggla’s return has sent Alfredo Amezaga to the bench. Cody Ross is playing center, which is where Amezaga was playing before Amezaga got hurt. Jeremy Hermida is in right.

Two of the hits were doubles. Miguel Cabrera also drove in four for Florida, and Josh Willingham and Wes Helms had three RBI apiece. Uggla, who was named to the All-Star squad this week, is batting .314/.369/.524.

He also swiped his sixth base in 12 attempts. Uggla has five homers and 18 RBI in August. His bomb tonight was estimated at 449 feet, making it the longest at new Busch Stadium so far.

Uggla hit a two-run homer in the first and then plated another run on an infield single in the fourth. That was it for the Marlins until Cody Ross singled in Eric Reed to end the game in the bottom of the 10th. Uggla is up to 23 homers and 84 RBI. He has about as strong of a case for Rookie of the Year honors as any National Leaguer.