Surprise! Marlins lead East

MIAMI – The Florida Marlins were in the late innings of a tight game when the opposing center fielder lost a routine fly in the sun and let it fall for a double. Then a wild pitch took a crazy bounce off the backstop, two runs scored, and the surprising Fish were headed to another win.

Three weeks into the season, the baseball gods seem to be smiling on the Marlins.

“We’ll take it, because we got a lot of frowns last year,” manager Fredi Gonzalez says.

The Marlins finished last in the N.L. East in 2007 at 71-91, then traded away their biggest stars, Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis. That deal with Detroit further reduced Florida’s already small payroll. Expectations for this year were modest.

But the ball has been bouncing Florida’s way, most recently with Sunday’s misplayed fly and extremely wild pitch by the hapless Washington Nationals.

The Marlins began this week 5-0 in one-run games, and despite being outscored by six runs this season, they are 12-7 and leading a division that includes Philadelphia, the New York Mets and Atlanta.

“We’re not surprised,” says left-hander Scott Olsen, the ace of an unsung rotation. “We have confidence in each other and ourselves. People might be surprised, but we’re not.”

With a payroll of $22 million, maybe it’s surprising whenever the Marlins win a game. The New York Yankees’ payroll is 10 times higher, and thrifty Tampa Bay – with the majors’ second-smallest payroll – has Florida doubled at $44 million.

Even if the Marlins turn out not to be the best team in the N.L. East, their roster may be baseball’s best bargain. It’s led by shortstop Hanley Ramirez, a blossoming superstar who began the week batting .366 with five homers, 14 RBIs and one error.

Also off to strong starts are first baseman Mike Jacobs (.304, six homers), left fielder Josh Willingham (.299, four homers) and Cabrera’s replacement at third base, Jorge Cantu (.308).

The team’s 26 homers began Monday as the second most in the majors, and an overworked but deep bullpen has an ERA of 3.21. The result? The Marlins have won four of their first six series.