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Marlins beat 9/26
Marlins pitchers set club shutout record
MILWAUKEE — Their team ERA may be just in the middle of the pack in the National League, but Marlins pitchers are among the league’s best in at least one category.
With their 4-0 victory Saturday night, the Marlins notched their 16th shutout of the season, which ties them with the Giants and Dodgers for fourth in the NL, behind the Mets, Padres and Phillies, each of whom has recorded 19 shutouts in 2010.
More impressively, the Marlins established a new franchise record with the 16 shutouts.
Of the 16 games in which the Marlins held opponents scoreless, Josh Johnson recorded the most wins with five. Anibal Sanchez pitched as a part of four shutouts, though he only got the win three times.
Right-hander Chris Volstad has been the starter in each of the last two shutouts, including his five-hit shutout performance against the Cardinals on Monday.
“I have to say that something clicked for him,” manager Edwin Rodriguez said after Saturday’s 4-0 victory. “It could be his release point. It could be his confidence in pitches. It could be something, because pretty much he has the same stuff.
“Something is working for him.”
Florida pitchers have recorded nine shutouts since the All-Star break after posting seven through the first half of the season. Their July total was five shutouts, the most of any month. The Marlins also had four shutouts in August.
Before Volstad’s shutout Saturday night, the Marlins shared the top spot in franchise history with the 2005 club.
Hanley, Bonifacio still recovering from injuries
MILWAUKEE — Little changed with the Marlins from the beginning to the end of their four-game series with the Brewers at Miller Park. In fact, with a win on Sunday, they can assure themselves of leaving the way they came in, with a winning record.
On the injury front, things remain mostly the same as well.
After sitting out four straight games with a hamstring injury, Emilio Bonifacio pinch-hit and played shortstop Friday, but remained out of the lineup Saturday and Sunday.
Shortstop Hanley Ramirez also remained out with a left elbow injury Sunday, marking the fifth straight game out of the lineup for Ramirez and ninth in the Marlins’ past 10 games. When asked if he had any update on Ramirez before Sunday’s game, manager Edwin Rodriguez admitted he did not.
With both Ramirez and Bonifacio still out of the starting lineup, rookie Ozzie Martinez got his fifth consecutive start and sixth overall. In five starts before Sunday, Martinez was batting .263/.364/.368 with two RBIs, two doubles and three walks.
Worth noting
With his 21st home run of the season Saturday night, Mike Stanton retook the rookie home run lead, while also making a little history. Stanton’s 21 home runs are the most by any rookie who made his big league debut in June or later since Kevin Maas hit 21 for the Yankees in 1990. Maas debuted on June 29 of that season. … With four road games remaining and a 39-38 record, the Marlins could become only the third team in franchise history to finish the season with a record of .500 or better on the road. The 2009 club posted a Marlins-record 44 road wins, while the ’04 club went 41-41. … With one more RBI, second baseman Dan Uggla would become the 11th player in Marlins history to record 100 RBIs in a single season.
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
MILWAUKEE — Their team ERA may be just in the middle of the pack in the National League, but Marlins pitchers are among the league’s best in at least one category.With their 4-0 victory Saturday night, the Marlins notched their 16th shutout of the season, which ties them with the Giants and Dodgers for fourth in the NL, behind the Mets, Padres and Phillies, each of whom has recorded 19 shutouts in 2010.More impressively, the Marlins established a new franchise record with the 16 shutouts.Of the 16 games in which the Marlins held opponents scoreless, Josh Johnson recorded the most wins with five. Anibal Sanchez pitched as a part of four shutouts, though he only got the win three times.Right-hander Chris Volstad has been the starter in each of the last two shutouts, including his five-hit shutout performance against the Cardinals on Monday.”I have to say that something clicked for him,” manager Edwin Rodriguez said after Saturday’s 4-0 victory. “It could be his release point. It could be his confidence in pitches. It could be something, because pretty much he has the same stuff.”Something is working for him.”Florida pitchers have recorded nine shutouts since the All-Star break after posting seven through the first half of the season. Their July total was five shutouts, the most of any month. The Marlins also had four shutouts in August.Before Volstad’s shutout Saturday night, the Marlins shared the top spot in franchise history with the 2005 club.Hanley, Bonifacio still recovering from injuriesMILWAUKEE — Little changed with the Marlins from the beginning to the end of their four-game series with the Brewers at Miller Park. In fact, with a win on Sunday, they can assure themselves of leaving the way they came in, with a winning record.On the injury front, things remain mostly the same as well.After sitting out four straight games with a hamstring injury, Emilio Bonifacio pinch-hit and played shortstop Friday, but remained out of the lineup Saturday and Sunday.Shortstop Hanley Ramirez also remained out with a left elbow injury Sunday, marking the fifth straight game out of the lineup for Ramirez and ninth in the Marlins’ past 10 games. When asked if he had any update on Ramirez before Sunday’s game, manager Edwin Rodriguez admitted he did not.With both Ramirez and Bonifacio still out of the starting lineup, rookie Ozzie Martinez got his fifth consecutive start and sixth overall. In five starts before Sunday, Martinez was batting .263/.364/.368 with two RBIs, two doubles and three walks.Worth notingWith his 21st home run of the season Saturday night, Mike Stanton retook the rookie home run lead, while also making a little history. Stanton’s 21 home runs are the most by any rookie who made his big league debut in June or later since Kevin Maas hit 21 for the Yankees in 1990. Maas debuted on June 29 of that season. … With four road games remaining and a 39-38 record, the Marlins could become only the third team in franchise history to finish the season with a record of .500 or better on the road. The 2009 club posted a Marlins-record 44 road wins, while the ’04 club went 41-41. … With one more RBI, second baseman Dan Uggla would become the 11th player in Marlins history to record 100 RBIs in a single season.Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Marlins beat, 9/23
Hanley out again, still considered day-to-day
MILWAUKEE — Hanley Ramirez was out of the lineup on Thursday for the fifth time in six games, and the Marlins’ shortstop may not return this season.
“From what I saw in the last game that he played, he said he felt worse than the day before,” said Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez. “That’s not a good sign. If that’s what’s going to happen, I’d rather not play him until I see any real improvement.
“If he’s going to get worse, it doesn’t make any sense to throw him out there.”
Ramirez has been sidelined due to inflammation in his left elbow. He missed four games before going 1-for-4 with a strikeout and a run scored in Tuesday’s 5-2 win over the Mets, and sat once again on Wednesday.
In his place, rookie Ozzie Martinez made his third start at shortstop on Thursday with Emilio Bonifacio also unavailable. Rodriguez said Ramirez continues to receive treatment on his elbow and may see some limited action on the basepaths.
“He’s available to pinch-run, but we’re not going to throw him out there while he’s in that condition,” said Rodriguez. “So far, he’s day-to-day.”
Bonifacio should return to Marlins on Saturday
MILWAUKEE — If everything goes according to plan, the job of Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez may get a little easier on Saturday, when he expects infielder Emilio Bonifacio to return.
Bonifacio, who has been sidelined with left hamstring tightness, ran and hit in the cage on Thursday. Everything went well, according to Rodriguez, but he did not expect Bonifacio back in the lineup for Friday’s game.
“Even if he’s OK tomorrow, I would keep him out of the lineup,” Rodriguez said. “I would count on him as a pinch-runner or pinch-hitter, just to make sure he’s fine. Saturday, I’m pretty sure he would be in there, if everything goes well.”
With Bonifacio unavailable, Rodriguez is without one of his most valuable and versatile options on the team.
Bonifacio provides his manager with the luxury of his ability to play all three outfield positions as well as second base, shortstop and third base.
“Having him and [being] unable to use him, it’s really tying my hands,” Rodriguez said. “He can play everywhere, he can do everything. It’s tough to manage without him, because you can count on him for everything.”
Martinez already a big star in Puerto Rico
MILWAUKEE — He made just his third Major League start on Thursday for the Marlins, but shortstop Ozzie Martinez is already a big star in Puerto Rico.
“Right now, he’s a hero in Puerto Rico,” said Marlins manager Edwin Martinez, who hails from Ponce, Puerto Rico. “He’s a nice story, and the country’s paying attention.
“He’s having so much fun. He brings so much energy to the field, it’s amazing. Everybody’s rooting for him.”
Martinez has drawn plenty of attention from the media in his home nation, including from sportscaster and writer Fufi Santori.
Recently, Santori wrote “Un Canto Para Ozzie Martinez,” and put together a video featuring himself singing the song.
“People really respect [Santori], so coming from him, it was really nice to see that,” Rodriguez said.
Injuries to the Marlins’ first two options at shortstop — Hanley Ramirez (left elbow) and Emilio Bonifacio (left hamstring) — have given Martinez the perfect opportunity to audition for a more permanent job in the Major Leagues.
According to his manager, Martinez has already displayed a number of qualities that bode well for his future success at the big league level.
“He’s fearless. He looks like he’s very confident that he belongs here,” Rodriguez said. “The way he’s been playing, the way he’s been taking every at-bat against very good pitching … he’s very, very close to making himself a big leaguer on a full-time basis.”
In three games with the Marlins entering Thursday, Martinez has batted .286, collecting two hits, two walks, a run scored and a strikeout. Martinez, who is better known for his defense than his offense, has looked even better so far in the field.
Asked if Martinez’s defense would be what kept him in the big leagues early on, Rodriguez offered his assessment of how he thought things would pan out in the near future.
“I picture him to start off as a utility guy — second, short, third base,” Rodriguez said. “Eventually, he will make himself an everyday player.”
A Schelling For Your Thoughts 