NewsRoss' power surge gives lineup balance
Marlins center fielder cements status as offensive weapon
By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com
06/14/09 10:13 AM ET
TORONTO -- Watch out when Cody Ross heats up.This weekend at Rogers Centre, the Blue Jays are seeing why.
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Ross, the Marlins' deceptively powerful center fielder, is on one of his hitting tears. The end result is that his bat has played a big factor in Florida's two victories on Friday, 7-3, and Saturday, 6-5.
"Cody is a clutch hitter," Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez said.
Toronto won't dispute that claim.
On Friday night, Ross belted a grand slam on an 0-2 Brandon League pitch in the eighth inning. The blast to center field snapped a 2-2 tie and helped to lift Florida to a 7-3 win.
On Saturday, Ross belted a two-run homer that stayed just fair down the left-field line. He also added two doubles.
Six Ross RBIs in the series has provided the Marlins with pop from the bottom of their lineup. In both games, Ross hit in the eighth hole.
Listed in the Marlins media guide at 5-foot-10, 194-pounds, Ross isn't a prototypical power hitter. Yet, last year, he hit 22 homers in 461 at-bats. This year, he has 10 home runs and 39 RBIs.
"Last year, he had a 20-something home run season, and he hits doubles," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "We were able to produce from the bottom of the lineup. When you're able to do that, and pitch, you've got a chance to win ballgames."
Ross is known for being streaky. In April, he batted .217 and followed that up with a .287 clip in May. He's now at .318 in June.
"I chalk it up to, when you're seeing it, you're seeing it. When you're not, you're not," Ross said. "I feel pretty good up there. A lot of it has to do with confidence, and knowing that you're going to do something. Generally, if you go up there with the attitude that this guy is going to get me out, and I'm not going to be able to hit the ball hard, chances are you're not.
"So, there is a lot of mental stuff going on. Right now, I feel good, and I'm just trying to ride the wave. This is a great place to hit."
Ross is no stranger to posting big numbers in a series.
The best Ross has done in a series came last year at Colorado. In a four-game span against the Rockies at Coors Field, he had 12 hits and drove in 15 runs from July 3-6. Ross was the first player since Carlton Fisk -- Sept. 5-8, 1977 -- to record 15 RBIs in a four-game series.
Fisk did it against the Blue Jays.
Reminded of his series in Colorado, Ross replied: "I don't know that I'll ever repeat that."
Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
