After being swept by the Phillies, the Marlins traveled down to St. Petersburg in hopes to end their skid. They didn’t win one game, and managed to lose a manager in the three game series.

Game 1- The Fish only managed to come up with one run in their series-opening 5-1 loss, with Brad Hand (0-3, 3.45 ERA) giving up three runs on two homers in 4.2 innings. Buck got an RBI to score the single run the Fish would get, while leaving 8 on base. Steve Cishek would come into the 8th to pitch for Florida, where he gave up two runs. A fan interfered with a ball hit down the right-field line by Rays 2B Sean Rodriguez, which was ruled a ground rule double. The Rays would’ve scored a run regardless, but home plate umpire Ted Barrett called for the runner who was at first base at the time, to score on the ground-rule double. Current Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez came out to argue the call; the home plate umpire claiming that it was a judgement call that Evan Longoria, who was at first base at the time, would’ve scored on the hit. Edwin got in his face over the call, which made it a 4-run deficit now for the Fish. Edwin was ejected after a short while of yelling.

Game 2- Ricky Nolasco’s struggles continued in this 7-4 loss, where he would give up 5 runs, all earned, on 8 hits. Nolasco (4-3, 4.48 ERA) went 5.0 innings, and was unable to get a strikeout. The Fish managed to get 5 hits, the power coming from Infante, who went 2-4, and Gaby Sanchez, who went 1-4 with a double. Rays’ CF Johnny Damon hit a milestone, where he became the 11th player in MLB history to reach 500 doubles, 100 triples, 200 homers, and 2,500 hits. The Marlins went 1-10 with runners in scoring position, leaving 6 on base. The Marlins’ relief gave up 6 walks, a stat that is never surprising to see.

Game 3- Edwin Rodriguez resigned as manager for the Marlins around 11AM. Only a few hours later, with bench coach Brandon Hyde managing, the Fish would lose their 10th straight game. A strong pitching performance by Chris Volstad, who has one of the worst records and ERA’s in baseball- (2-7, 5.65 ERA), wasn’t enough to give the Marlins an edge. Volstad gave up 1 run in 7.0 innings, where he allowed 6 hits, while walking and striking out 4 each. Randy Choate allowed the second run to the Rays, runners he inherited from Ryan Webb in the 8th inning, which gave him his fourth loss of the season. The Fish hit poorly, with Dewayne Wise, Emilio Bonifacio, Logan Morrison, and Omar Infante being the only players to get hits. Spectacular catches from Rays left fielder Sam Fuld would bring down the Marlins in the 8th, while a great pitching performance from James Shields brought down the Fish and lasted all-game. The Rays would win it, 2-1 on Father’s Day Sunday.

Next Series: The Marlins are set to take on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, home, at Sun Life Stadium in a 3-game series.

Series Starters:
Monday, June 20 (7:10PM ET): Anibal Sanchez (6-1, 3.02 ERA) vs. Jered Weaver (8-4, 2.06 ERA)
Tuesday, June 21 (7:10PM ET): Javier Vazquez (3-7, 6.85 ERA) vs. Ervin Santana (3-7, 4.25 ERA)
Wednesday, June 23 (7:10PM ET): Brad Hand (0-3, 3.45 ERA) vs. Joel Pineiro (3-3, 3.92 ERA)

-Derek

Whose to blame for this series sweep? Starting pitching? Yes. Relief pitching? Yes. Hitting? Yes.

It was a complete group effort that resulted in the Philadelphia Phillies taking all four games, which now has the Florida Marlins down in the cellar of the NL East.

Game 1- Most Marlins fans were probably optimistic to hear that Hanley Ramirez would be back in the lineup to spark the offense, but that didn’t happen. Ramirez went 0-for-4 with two k’s, and the Marlins weren’t able to do much off Hamels, who gave up one run on three hits in seven innings before exiting with tightness in his back. On the other hand the Phillies were able to do a lot off of Chris Volstad. Chris did what he does best and that is give up the long ball. Four to be exact. The Marlins ended up losing the game 9-1, which resulted in Volstad’s seventh loss of the season.

Game 2- First game of the double-header didn’t go as planned for Elih Villanueva, who made his first MLB start. He only lasted three innings and gave up eight runs, all of which were earned. As you could imagine the Marlins didn’t hit well again only scoring one run on a Logan Morrison solo blast. The Marlins lost the game on a final score of 8-1.

Game 3-The Marlins saw their losing streak reach six straight, and they have dropped 14 of 15 after a frustrating 5-4 loss to the Phillies in 10 innings in the second part of a day-night doubleheader. Anibal Sanchez matched up against Phillies ace Roy Halladay and guided the Marlins to a 4-2 lead into the 9th inning. Closer Leo Nunez came on to finish it but faltered again. It was his third blown save of the year, and they have all come within recent memory. The Phillies went on to win the game 5-4 in the 10th inning with a walk off single off Mike Dunn.

Game 4- In a very lopsided matchup, Javier Vazquez took on Cliff Lee in the final game of the series. Let’s just say Cliff Lee had a better game. Lee ended up with a CG two hitter, and he earned his seventh win of the season.

The Marlins record now sits at 32-37, which is the worst in the NL East. Next up for the fish are their inter-state rivals the Rays. Brad Hand will be facing Wade Davis tomorrow night at the Trop.

-Alex

Home sweet home doesn’t apply to the Marlins apparently. The Marlins finished 1-10 on their homestand, which was one loss shy of the club record back in 1999, and have now lost 14 of their last 17 games since sweeping the Giants May 24-26.

During the Braves series, the Marlins hired Eduardo Perez to replace John Mallee as hitting coach. The move led to the dismay of many players, especially LF Logan Morrison. Florida Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest told left fielder Logan Morrison to “tone down” his comments about the organization after Morrison pointed the finger toward Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria for the firing.

The hitting woes continued despite the firing of Mallee, but things have started to pick up offensively over the last few days.

After leaving 92 men on base and hitting just .136 (12-for-88) with runners in scoring position through the first 10 games of the homestand, the Marlins stranded another 10 and finished 10-for-20 with RISP. Which is a slight sign of improvement.

The Marlins now face a crucial series as they head to Philadelphia 7 1/2 games behind the Phillies in the National League East standings.

Hopefully a couple series away from home, and Hanley back in the lineup can spark the offense and help the starters get back on track.

-Alex

Clay Hensley came in to pitch part of the ninth inning but it didn’t last long. Hensley threw a changeup that Sean Burroughs swung and missed for strike three in the bottom of the ninth, then went down in pain.

Hensley appears headed for a second trip to the DL this year. He was out May 7-22 with a left rib contusion after slipping and falling on some steps in the team hotel in Cincinnati.

This also sparks the question, who will the Marlins call up to replace his spot?

The most likely candidate in my eyes would be AAA Zephyrs pitcher Jose Ceda. Ceda, 24, has been absolutely dominant so far this year posting a 1.11 ERA with 15 saves.

Clay also received the loss in tonight’s game. Hensley is 0-2 with a 3.60 ERA.

Get well soon Clay.

-Alex

Seasoned veteran Javy Vazquez took the mound for the fish against the hard throwing youngster Daniel Hudson. The Marlins however hopped on Hudson early and a big reason why was Mike Stanton.

Stanton opened the scoring with a two-run home run to left-center in the second inning. Emilio Bonifacio doubled two batters later and starting pitcher Javier Vazquez, who pinch-hit earlier in the series, drove Bonifacio home on a single to center for a 3-0 lead.

In the next inning Stanton tripled off D-backs starter Daniel Hudson, scoring Logan Morrison to make it a 4-0 lead.

Since returning from bereavement list, Marlins pitcher Javy Vazquez has gone 17 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 13 K, 3 BB. The good pitching from the righty continued throughout most of the night.

Javier Vazquez cruised through five innings of one-hit baseball, but he was lit  up in the sixth. Ryan Roberts hit his eighth home run of the year, a two-run shot to left field, and Upton drove in Kelly Johnson with a groundout to second base after Johnson tripled.

Choate came in to face two lefties but failed to retire either one. Miguel Montero was HBP and Juan Miranda worked a walk. Mujica then came in to pitch and allowed a run ( Charged to Vazquez ).

The D-Backs gained the lead but it was quickly lost when John Buck hit a solo home run to right field off D-backs closer J.J. Putz to lead off the top of the ninth and tie the game, 5-5.

Mike Dunn came in to get the first out in the bottom of the night but he also walked a batter. Reliever Clay Hensley came in to pitch, but he had to leave the game after injuring his right shoulder on a strikeout pitch to D-backs pinch-hitter Sean Burroughs.

Burke Badenhop came in to get the final out, but Justin Upton’s broken-bat bloop single into right field gave the D-backs a come-from-behind 6-5 walk-off victory over the Marlins.

Javier Vazquez pitched six innings, allowing four earned runs on six hits. He struck out five.

On a positive note, Mike Stanton did go 3-4 and just a single shy of the 1st cycle in Marlins history.

Another disappointing performance from the bullpen allowed the Marlins lose the series 2-1. Overall the team went 5-4 on the road trip.

-Alex

The dominance of Marlins pitcher Anibal Sanchez continued as he tossed 8 innings of 2 run ball against the Diamondbacks. Edwin Rodriguez got exactly what he needed on a night in which the Marlins bullpen desperately needed a break.

The two runs Sanchez allowed were both solo shots by Justin Upton, and Kelly Johnson.

The Marlins scored key runs on homers from Logan Morrison, his seventh, and Gaby Sanchez, his ninth and second in as many nights. Logan Morrison’s shot was a rocket to deep center field and Gaby’s was a drive to the left field bleachers.

D-backs starter Ian Kennedy wasn’t sharp and lasted only five innings, allowing three runs on five hits resulting in a loss and dropping his record to 6-2.

The victory for the Marlins pulled them back within two games of the Phillies in the National League East, as Philly lost at Washington. The Marlins record now stands at 31-22.

-Alex

Last time Anibal Sanchez took the mound at AT&T Park he threw a one-hit shutout, and today he was almost as impressive. Anibal went the distance by notching his fifth complete game and third career shutout in a 1-0 Marlins win.

Sanchez had his work cut out for him in first-inning after Andres Torres reached on a bunt single, and with one out, Freddy Sanchez walked. The threat was erased when Aubrey Huff bounced into a 4-6-3 double play. From that point on Anibal didn’t allow as many as two runners on base in the same inning again.

Anibal’s counter part, Ryan Vogelsong, only allowed one run on ten hits in eight quality innings. The Marlins finally got to him though in the sixth inning when Logan Morrison’s hit a RBI single to center that scored Chris Coghlan.

Anibal has put together an impressive streak of 9 starts by allowing 3 earned runs or less in each of those games, which has resulted in lowering his ERA to 2.60.

Sanchez’s gem helped Florida complete its first three-game sweep at San Francisco since 1995 at 3Com Park.

The Marlins will now be headed on down to Los Angeles to face the Dodgers, and their record now sits at 29-19.

-Alex