NewsMarlins ready to bounce back at home
Florida (17-18) vs. Los Angeles (24-12), 7:10 p.m. ET
By Jeffrey Zampanti / Special to MLB.com
05/14/09 8:08 PM ET
MILWAUKEE -- Desperately searching for a much-needed boost, the Marlins hope there is no place like home. Florida begins a 10-game homestand Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, coming off of a tough stretch in which it has lost 17 of the past 23 games to dip below .500 for the first time this season. "It's been real frustrating," Marlins ace Josh Johnson said. "We've been one pitch away, one hit away. We were getting those hits and making those pitches early in the season. We just have to keep fighting through it and pushing, and hopefully it will turn around for us." The Marlins played 22 of their first 35 games on the road. "We'll go home and finally have a long homestand," Johnson said. "Maybe that will help. We've been on the road it seems like all year." After a three-game series against the Dodgers, the Marlins host Arizona (May 18-21) and Tampa Bay (May 22-24). Pitching matchupFLA: RHP Chris Volstad (2-2, 2.98 ERA)
Volstad tossed his fourth straight quality start on Sunday, but he took the loss for a second successive outing. He hasn't won since April 14, his second start of the season. The 22-year-old made his first Major League start against the Dodgers last July 11, and it was a beauty. He tossed 8 2/3 innings of one-run ball, holding Los Angeles to five hits and one walk while striking out six. It is the closest Volstad has come to a complete game in his young big league career. LAD: LHP Eric Stults (4-1, 3.58 ERA)
Stults turned in the best performance of his career on Saturday against the Giants when he threw a four-hit shutout. He retired the first 13 batters he faced before allowing a one-out double to Aaron Rowand. It was just one of three hits he allowed all afternoon, and he struck out five without issuing a walk. Stults even added an RBI single in the eighth for good measure. Stults is 0-1 with a 4.00 ERA in two career outings against the Marlins. Tidbits
Hanley Ramirez extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a leadoff double in the fourth inning. He is batting .524 (22-for-42) during the stretch. ... Just one night after having a home run taken off the board because of instant replay, Ross Gload left little doubt with a 408-foot solo home run on Thursday. It was his first homer of the season. ... Marlins closer Matt Lindstrom hasn't appeared in a game since May 9. ... Florida has lost four games in a row, three of which came by two runs or fewer. Tickets
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• Saturday: Marlins (Andrew Miller, 0-1, 6.94) vs. Dodgers (Jeff Weaver, 1-0, 2.57), 6:10 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Marlins (John Koronka, 0-1, 9.64) vs. Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw, 1-3, 5.21), 1:10 p.m. ET
• Monday: Marlins (Ricky Nolasco, 2-4, 7.78) vs. Diamondbacks (Dan Haren, 3-4, 2.09), 7:10 p.m. ET
Jeffrey Zampanti is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
