Marlins

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- It's early. We don't want to jinx them. But there's a no-hitter in progress, and the Florida Marlins are pitching it.They have no runs or hits themselves. But they have made no errors. They have a general manager, a scouting director, a player development director, one single owner with money.They have 13 full-time scouts. Already. They have five major-league scouts. Already. They don't join the National League until 1993. They will be ready. If the sports world were the stock market, your best tip would be 100 shares of the Marlins.

The game Winding down the Florida portion of their exhibition schedule, the Orioles lost to the Marlins, ending their seven-game winning streak. Maybe they were thrown by a late change in starters, with Matt Clement scratched after being traded to the Chicago Cubs. The arms Scott Erickson was knocked around, lasting only 5 2/3 innings and allowing six runs and 10 hits. Among his 97 pitches was a three-run homer to Ramon Castro in the second inning and a two-run shot by Alex Gonzalez in the sixth.

The game A leadoff homer by Brian Roberts got the Orioles started right, and a two-run shot by Brook Fordyce in the ninth gave them the victory. The Orioles had trailed 7-2 before rallying. The Marlins were denied the tying run with two outs in the ninth on a running catch by right fielder Jay Gibbons. The arms Rookie left-hander Erik Bedard lasted only one inning, allowing a run-scoring single by Mike Lowell and three-run homer by Derrek Lee. Lee added a run-scoring double off Travis Driskill in the third.

At Oriole Park at Camden YardsDay, Time, TV, StartersTonight, 7:35, HTS, Brian Meadows (6-6, 4.26) vs. Scott Erickson (8-6, 4.42)Tomorrow, 7:35, HTS, Livan Hernandez (6-4, 4.24) vs. Pete Smith (0-2, 9.64)Thursday, 3:05, HTS, Joe Fontenot (0-6, 6.16) vs. Sidney Ponson (1-6, 6.67)Radio: All games on WBAL (1090 AM) and WTOP (1500 AM)Marlins updateThe Marlins disarmed after becoming the first wild card to win a World Series last October. In what is certain to be the final year for manager Jim Leyland and general manager Dave rTC Dombrowski, the Marlins have become entrenched in last place in the NL East.

At Pro Player Stadium, MiamiDay, Time, TV, StartersTonight 7: 05 HTS Mike Mussina (7-3, 4.26) vs. Ryan Dempster (3-1, 2.89)Tomorrow 7: 05 HTS Jason Johnson (0-1, 9.31) vs. Alex Fernandez (1-3, 2.92)Wednesday 7: 05 HTS Scott Erickson (1-8, 7.11) vs. Dennis Springer (2-6, 3.97)Radio: All games on WBAL (1090 AM) and WTOP (1500 AM)Marlins updateBefitting a team stripped down since its world championship two years ago, the Marlins are in last place in the NL East and possess the league's worst record.