MIAMI, June 18 (UPI) -- Luis Castillo went 3-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to 32 games and Ryan Dempster pitched six innings Tuesday night as the Florida Marlins blanked the Cleveland Indians, 4-0.
After he was thrown out trying to reach on a bunt in the first inning, Castillo doubled to left field in the third to move within one game of Rogers Hornsby for the longest hitting streak by a second baseman. Hornsby hit in 33 consecutive games in 1922.
Castillo's streak is the longest in the major leagues since 1987, when Paul Molitor and Benito Santiago hit safely in 39 and 34 games, respectively.
Dempster (5-6) allowed four hits before being ejected in the seventh inning for hitting Travis Fryman with a pitch after both teams were warned earlier. The righthander walked two and struck out four.
Derrek Lee hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning to stake Florida to a 3-0 lead. It was his 13th homer in interleague play.
Chuck Finley (4-8) took the loss, despite allowing just one run and six hits in five innings. The veteran lefthander walked one and struck out five.
