Jupiter, Fla. ? They can’t do for Ugueth Urbina what he did so often for them during the summer and fall of 2003. They can’t bail him out of his mess, can’t save his day the way the former Marlins closer did when they were on a tight rope toward a World Series title.

“I wish I could help him,” Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria said Thursday. “But I don’t know how.”

Said Dontrelle Willis, one of two Marlins left from the 2003 team: “It broke my heart yesterday when I heard what happened to him. I know it sounds cheesy, but it was a tough day for me.”

On Wednesday, a Venezuelan court handed Urbina a 14-year sentence for attempted murder. Urbina, 33, was found guilty of joining a group of men in attacking workers with machetes and pouring gasoline on them at his family’s ranch.

Urbina has denied involvement. Marlins third baseman Miguel Cabrera said he believes his friend, fellow countryman and former teammate.

“He didn’t do anything,” Cabrera said. “I believe he’ll get out of jail.”

Urbina’s life has come unraveled since he served an integral role in helping lead the Marlins to their second World Series title. In 2004, his mother was kidnapped and held for ransom for five months. She was rescued by police.

Then, eight months after his mother’s rescue, Urbina landed behind bars, accused of taking part in the attack.

Cabrera said he has spoken to Urbina by phone a few times as Urbina waited in his cell for his trial, but Cabrera never visited him. He said Urbina didn’t want to see him in that state.

“I never visited because he said, ‘No, don’t come here. You don’t need to come here,'” Cabrera said. “I wanted to go. But he always said ‘No.'”

In July 2003, the Marlins were slowly entering playoff contention when Loria signed off on a deal to bolster the bullpen by obtaining Urbina from Texas. Urbina had pitched with Montreal when Loria owned that team.

“He had a lot of heart, and when I made that decision to trade for Urbina, it was to bring in a guy with tremendous heart,” Loria said.

Urbina eventually took over as the closer, preserving one critical victory after another.

“He was a shot in the arm,” said Andy Fox, the Marlins’ first-base coach and a member of the ’03 team. “He’s a passionate guy. That’s why he was such a great teammate.”

Loria said he can hardly bear to watch the television reports on Urbina.

“I was very upset last night when I saw a quick glimpse of him, walking behind bars,” Loria said.