Sports News and Trade Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

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July 4

Miami Herald

"There is something about the last-place Pittsburgh Pirates that brings out the worst in these Marlins. Friday, it was starter Charlie Morton -- who pitched six scoreless innings of one-hit ball -- and a cast of unknown hitters who delivered the latest chapter of Marlins misery as the Pirates cruised to a 7-4 victory in front of 16,114 on a soggy Friday night at Land Shark Stadium. The Marlins entered Fourth of July weekend holding onto at least a share of first place later than they ever had in club history. But much like the stormy weather, which produced an hour and 15 minutes worth of delays, the Pirates submerged that little piece of Florida history quickly by jumping all over Marlins ..."

Players relish feeling of 1st on 4th weekend

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July 4

Miami Herald

"Fourth of July weekend has a different feel for the Marlins this year -- a first-place feel. Prior to this weekend, the latest the Marlins held at least a share of first was in 2004 -- when they were 41-37 and tied with the Phillies on June 30. Don't think the Marlins haven't noticed either. Catcher John Baker said that although there are still three months left in the season, scoreboard watching is happening more often in the dugout. ''Guys are noticing when the Phillies are down two and we're up one,'' Baker said. 'I think guys are saying `Let's get this thing going.' I know it's only July, but this is why we play baseball. I think it makes it that much more fun to know everyday there ..."

Pittsburgh runs win streak against Florida to 5 games

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July 4

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"Four down: The Pirates, who swept the Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! at home in April, have a five-game winning streak over the Marlins dating to last season. In the four 2009 meetings, the Marlins have averaged 2.5 runs and hit .190 (24 for 126). A little shake in Bake: John Baker's RBI double in the seventh and two-run homer in the ninth marked his third and fourth hits in his past 22 at-bats (.182) with runners in scoring position. He starting the season 6 for 16 (.375) with RISP, but that average is down to .263 (10 for 38). Spelling relief: Tim Wood pitched three scoreless innings in relief of Chris Volstad (three innings, four runs), who was lifted after a 45-minute rain ..."

Pirates drop Marlins out of first-place tie

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July 4

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"Even if the Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! don't see first place again, which is doubtful considering the state of the National League East, they can say they were atop the heap in July for the first time. The Marlins opened play Friday in a tie with the Phillies, but they didn't end there. Their other Pennsylvania nemesis saw to that as the Pirates coasted to a 7-4 win. Poor pitching, poor infield defense and an offense that didn't exhibit any life until the seventh contributed to the Marlins losing their eight-game winning streak at Land Shark Stadium. Another notable run that ended was Hanley Ramirez's RBI binge. Ramirez popped out to short in his only at-bat with runners on and ..."

Lindstrom upbeat after throwing

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July 4

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"Manager Fredi Gonzalez described it as a light throwing session. Light to Matt Lindstrom is 75 mph pellets. Sidelined with a right elbow sprain, Lindstrom started a throwing program Friday more than two weeks earlier than expected. When they placed him on the disabled list June 24, the Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! said Lindstrom would rest four weeks. "Waking up each morning and feeling it out, feeling the stiffness go away was a good thing," Lindstrom said. "It was the doctor's decision. It was just a matter of listening to his advice. It was a good throwing session. The last 10 days it was kind of tough coming to the park knowing you're not going to pick up a ball. Today was one ..."

Pirates down Marlins 7-4 in rain-delayed game

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July 4

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"Even if the Marlins don't see first place again, which is doubtful considering the state of the National League East, they can say they were atop the heap in July for the first time ever. The Marlins opened play Friday in a virtual tie atop the division with the Phillies, but they didn't end there. Their other Pennsylvania nemesis saw to that as the Pirates coasted to a 7-4 win. Poor pitching, poor infield defense and an offense that didn't exhibit any verve until the seventh contributed to the Marlins losing their eight-game Land Shark Stadium winning streak. Another notable run that ended was Hanley Ramirez's RBI binge. His streak ended at 10, already the longest ever for an NL shortstop ..."

Morton shows stuff, Pirates flatten Florida, 7-4

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July 4

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"There had been questions about Charlie Morton, long before he became the Pirates' most immediate return in the Nate McLouth trade. Chief among them: 1. Was he mentally tough enough? 2. Could he translate all that terrific stuff into success at the top level? It was only one game, this 7-4 flattening of first-place Florida last night at Land Shark Stadium that included rare home runs from Brandon Moss and Ramon Vazquez, but perhaps it began Morton's process of answering the above. Emphatically. He did walk four, twice when he clearly lost a grip on full counts, but he also used that stuff to quash his only two jams. Again, emphatically. The first two Florida batters reached in the fifth, ..."

Beleaguered bullpen to add ex-Twin Ayala

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July 3

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"The Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! and right-hander Luis Ayala agreed to terms on a one-year contract Thursday, not long after the Minnesota Twins released him. Ayala, 31, will report to Triple-A New Orleans for a couple of outings because he hasn't pitched since June 20. The Marlins will purchase his contract probably sometime toward the back end of next week's swing through San Francisco and Arizona. In Ayala, who the Twins designated for assignment on June 22, the Marlins get an experienced late-inning reliever who has 367 appearances and 382 2/3 innings, all but 32 1/3 of which he's spent in the National League East. Before missing the 2006 season recovering from Tommy John ..."

Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez takes game to the next level by becoming top run producer

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July 3

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"He'd already hit three grand slams. What a perfect time for a fourth, in the seventh inning Tuesday with two out and his team down a run. The thought never crossed his mind. With left-hander Joe Beimel on the mound nibbling over the outer half, Hanley Ramirez slapped a two-run single to right. "I don't think two or three years ago you would have seen that," Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! hitting coach Jim Presley said. "He stayed inside the ball and hit the ball hard the other way. … He's made up his mind, 'I'm going to drive these runs in,' and instead of trying to put the ball in the seats in left field, he's hitting the ball to right-center field. That's the difference." The ..."

Marlins have fine chance to win their first NL East crown

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July 2

Palm Beach Post

columnist Dave Goerge

"Here we are again, at 41-39, which is precisely where the Florida Marlins stood at this point last summer. Running a close second in the NL East, just like a year ago. Beating up on the wobbly Washington Nationals, per usual. Take them for granted if you think this is the high-water mark for the 2009 season, but it's a mistake. There are prime-time teams further from first place today than Florida is, big spenders like the Yankees and the Cubs, division rivals like the Mets and the Braves, even one of last year's World Series teams, the Tampa Bay Rays. And after what I've seen the last couple of days, the Marlins might just be in line for some kind of miracle at the season's midpoint. Take ..."

Hanley Ramirez extends RBI streak to 10 games in Florida Marlins' victory

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July 2

Palm Beach Post

"Told after Wednesday's game that he now leads all other National League shortstops on the All-Star ballot by more than a quarter-million votes, Hanley Ramirez took a moment to speak directly to the fans who have voted for him. "It's a pleasure for me to know that they appreciate the way I play, with love and passion for the game," Ramirez said. "The city, the state of Florida, they deserve it." Post your comments on this story below More in SportsGet the latest news, photos and more for S. Fla. teams. Share This Story He had paid them back the best way he knows how, starting with the 27,032 at Land Shark Stadium. Ramirez hit a two-run double for the Marlins in the third inning of their ..."

Hanley Ramirez stays hot in Florida Marlins' rain shortened win

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July 2

Miami Herald

"Hanley Ramirez knocked in runs. Mother Nature delivered the knockout. The Marlins, behind a record-breaking performance from Ramirez, dealt the Washington Nationals a 7-5 defeat Tuesday night at Land Shark Stadium in a game that was called by rain in the bottom of the seventh inning. Ramirez was a big reason for the victory, which pulled the Marlins to within 1 ½ games of the first-place Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East. The All-Star shortstop set a club record by becoming the first Marlin to drive in at least one run in nine consecutive games. Ramirez established the mark when he clubbed a two-run home run -- his 13th of the season -- in the sixth inning off Nationals ..."

Florida Marlins complete sweep as Ramirez extends RBI streak

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July 2

Miami Herald

"Even though the Dominican Republic was wiped out by the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic, the tournament wasn't a total waste for Hanley Ramirez. During the event in March, he sought advice from a few of his Dominican teammates on ways to become a better run-producer. ''I spoke to a couple of guys -- ``Big Papi,'' Tejada -- on what to do with guys in scoring position,'' said Ramirez, referring to David Ortiz and Miguel Tejada. ``I got some tips from them.'' If Ortiz and Tejada had anything to do with the wild success Ramirez is now experiencing at the plate with runners in scoring position, the two mentors should write a book. They would make a fortune. On Wednesday, Ramirez set ..."

Shortstop shares credit for RBI streak

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July 2

Miami Herald

"As Hanley Ramirez correctly pointed out, he wouldn't be driving in runs if it wasn't for Chris Coghlan and Emilio Bonifacio -- the two batters in front of him. ''We've got a couple of guys in front of me who have been getting on base,'' Ramirez said Wednesday after extending his streak of consecutive games with at least one RBI to 10. Ramirez has driven in a total of 24 runs during his 10-game streak. Leading the pack is Coghlan who, thanks to Ramirez, has scored nine times. Next is Bonifacio, who has scored seven of the runs. Ramirez has driven himself in five times with home runs. Ross Gload (two runs) and Brett Carroll (one) complete the list of beneficiaries. With his two-run double ..."

At long last, work begins at site of new Florida Marlins stadium

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July 2

Miami Herald

"The final piece of the Florida Marlins' 15-year quest for a permanent South Florida home came down to $6.2 million, last-minute political confusion and, finally, a 1 a.m. vote at County Hall. By Wednesday morning, only hours after the final approval came, workers assembled on the site of the former Orange Bowl to begin clearing land for the new baseball stadium. And late Wednesday afternoon, Miami-Dade Finance Director Carter Hammer was in New York signing off on a bond sale of $300 million to pay for much of construction of the new ballpark in Little Havana. ''This is a go,'' said County Manager George Burgess on Wednesday afternoon. ``Everything is done and priced. We have the funding in ..."

Bonifacio often confounding, but he can be electrifying

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July 2

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

columnist Dave Hyde

"Well, it was all on display in the opening three innings Wednesday, good and bad, pro and con, the reason the Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! should end this Emilio Bonifacio experiment right now and the proof they should keep the laboratory open for him all season. He swung at bad pitches. And his speed helped force a Washington error. His leaky judgment cost a run. And his baseball instincts created a run. He popped up balls that make him no money. And he slapped a single through the infield. His manager questioned his thinking in the dugout. And after this 5-3 Marlins win, in his office, manager Fredi Gonzalez talked of the run Bonifacio created by saying, "The guy's a winner." ..."

Marlins' mastery of Nationals continues

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July 2

Washington Times

"By the time they arrived at Land Shark Stadium at about 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nyjer Morgan and Sean Burnett already had spent seven hours making their way from Pittsburgh to South Florida. The newest members of the Washington Nationals were exhausted and still a bit stunned by the trade that uprooted their lives, but both insisted they couldn't wait to get on the field, even though they were now playing for the worst team in baseball. "That doesn't matter," Morgan said, a wide smile on his face. "The talent's here. [Acting GM Jim Rizzo], he wanted me bad. It feels good when someone wants you real bad." After experiencing a 5-3 loss to the Florida Marlins that featured all the staples of a ..."

Done deal: Work begins on construction site of Florida Marlins' new stadium

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July 1

Palm Beach Post

"On the first morning of the rest of the Florida Marlins' lives, team president David Samson wiped sleep from his eyes and proudly showed pictures on his iPhone of the first bit of dirt being moved for the team's new stadium. It was 3 a.m. today at Miami-Dade County Hall when he signed the final paperwork that set in motion the construction of the $515 million retractable-roof stadium in Little Havana. The team agreed at the last minute to cover a $6.2 million shortfall when the sale of bonds to finance the stadium brought in only $341 million instead of the expected $347 million. "There are no hurdles left," Samson said. "It's time to get this building built." Construction workers were ..."

Marlins' opponents running wild; Lindstrom ahead of schedule

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July 1

Palm Beach Post

"No team in baseball has given up more stolen bases than the Marlins. That's why manager Fredi Gonzalez stood behind home plate before Tuesday's game to watch catcher John Baker practice throws to second base. "We're working extremely hard on it, holding runners,'' said Gonzalez, who oversees the drills just about every day with Baker and catcher Ronny Paulino. "We've got to get better, bottom line.'' The Marlins had allowed 80 stolen bases in 100 attempts entering Tuesday's game. Stopping only 20 percent of stolen-base attempts put the Marlins 15th in the 16-team National League and in the bottom third in the majors. Baker has caught 10 of 53 base stealers ((18.9 percent) while Paulino has ..."

Before Florida Marlins game is called, Hanley Ramirez breaks club RBI record

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July 1

Palm Beach Post

"Right when the Marlins needed him most - and right before the rains came - Hanley Ramirez came through Tuesday night with a record-setting performance. With the Marlins trailing the Washington Nationals 5-2, Ramirez hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning. He then added a two-run single in the seventh inning to put Florida ahead to stay. The Marlins beat the Nationals 7-5 in a seven-inning game that was called after a 1 hour, 29 minute delay. The win allowed Florida to move within 11/2 games of the first-place Philadelphia Phillies, who lost to the Atlanta Braves. "It was good timing," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "We got those three runs in the seventh inning. With the rain coming, we ..."

Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco takes Nationals for a ride in 4-2 win

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June 30

Palm Beach Post

"The trash talking started a few minutes after Scott Olsen got into Ricky Nolasco's car. On the drive to Land Shark Stadium, where the two former teammates would face off against each other a few hours later, Nolasco challenged Olsen. "I asked him if he was ready to strike me out. He just laughed," Nolasco said. It wasn't quite the same as playing catch at Founders Park in Aventura, like they did together this past winter. But Nolasco and Olsen sure tested each others' wills Monday night in Florida's 4-2 victory. Nolasco matched his friend and former Marlins teammate through seven innings. After Olsen left the game, the Marlins scored two runs in the eighth off Washington's bullpen to snap ..."

Marlins console former teammate Josh Willingham after his brother's death

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June 30

Palm Beach Post

"Washington Nationals outfielder Josh Willingham said he appreciated the calls of support he received from his former Marlins teammates after his younger brother was killed in a car accident earlier this month. "It's just nice to get support from your friends. I'm fortunate to have a lot of friends and some of them are on the Marlins,'' he said Monday. "Whether it's people I'm going to be trying to beat tonight, it's good to have relationships with those people.'' Jon Willingham, 27, was killed after crashing his Ford Explorer head-on into a tree in Florence, Ala., around 1:45 a.m. June 13. According to The Times Daily in Florence, he was trying to elude police in a pursuit that lasted no ..."

Bullpen wastes Olsen's outing

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June 30

Washington Times

"Among the developments that would have been least expected by anyone who stepped into Land Shark Stadium on Monday night was a pitching gem from Scott Olsen. So the left-hander's seven spectacular innings in his return from a shoulder injury were among the most encouraging things the Washington Nationals have seen all year. "You couldn't ask for anything better," manager Manny Acta said. Well, except for a victory. Another bullpen meltdown resulted in a 4-2 loss to the Florida Marlins and made Olsen's performance moot, closing what should have been an uplifting evening on a decidedly sour note. A nip-and-tuck pitchers' duel between long-time friends Olsen and Ricky Nolasco - combined, ..."

Hot-hitting Hanley Ramirez steps up in the clutch

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June 30

Miami Herald

"When Hanley Ramirez came to bat with runners in scoring position last season, there wasn't a player hitting better than .300 that had less success than him. Ramirez was putrid when the pressure was on, hitting just .239 (26 for 109) when the Marlins needed a big hit. Now, there isn't a hitter in baseball having more success than the 25-year-old shortstop when teammates are standing on second or third. Entering Monday night's series opener against the Nationals, Ramirez was hitting .433 with runners in scoring position (29 for 67). He has 39 of his 51 RBI in those spots. Ramirez's new knack for delivering clutch hits is part of the reason why he earned National League Co-Player of the Week ..."

Marlins Nolasco sparkles in battle of pitchers

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June 30

Miami Herald

"Even though they no longer are teammates, Ricky Nolasco and Scott Olsen spent most of their offseason playing catch at Founder's Park in Aventura -- a place they grew to be close friends. On Monday night, after Nolasco gave Olsen a ride to the place where they used to work together, they hooked up for another version of catch -- a game of pitching tug-of-war that lasted more than seven innings. Luckily for Nolasco, it's Olsen who has baseball's worst bullpen as his backup. It made all the difference as the Marlins rallied for two runs off Nationals relievers in the eighth to beat Washington for the seventh time this season -- this time 4-2 -- in front of the third-smallest paid crowd of ..."

Tampa Bay Rays give Florida Marlins state of the art beating

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June 29

Miami Herald

"They're the Florida Marlins, but they're not the team in Florida. Not anymore. The unofficial title clearly belongs to the Tampa Bay Rays, who drove home the point in a series sweep that culminated Sunday in a 5-2 victory that seemed more like 15-2. ''They've beaten up on us pretty good the last two years,'' said Marlins outfielder Cody Ross. Said manager Fredi Gonzalez after the latest setback: ``I'm glad we only play 'em six times because they're a good ball club right now.'' The Rays splashed cold water on the Marlins, who rode in on a five-game winning streak but head home on a three-game skid, a game below .500 and three games behind the Philadelphia Phillies. On Sunday, the Rays ..."

Another stinging loss

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June 29

Miami Herald

"It has been a royal feast for the Marlins against the American League East -- except when it has concerned the Tampa Bay Rays. Their cross-state rivals did it to them again Saturday, as Jason Bartlett raced home from third on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth to give the Rays a 3-2 victory at Tropicana Field. The Rays have now won four of five games from the Marlins this season, and have taken 9 of 11 over the past two. They will be going for a series sweep Sunday. These aren't your older sibling's Rays, a team that used to pitch a tent in the basement of the AL East standings less than month into the season and reside there until the end. They are the defending AL champions and ..."

Daunting stretch of Florida Marlins schedule ends

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June 29

Miami Herald

"Even though they were spanked by the Tampa Bay Rays, the Marlins closed out their interleague schedule Sunday knowing it could have been a lot worse. By going 9-3 against the other four clubs in the formidable American League East, the Marlins went from eight games out in their division to only three games behind the Philadelphia Phillies. ''The run we've made has put us in a good position, so we can't take this too hard,'' Marlins infielder Wes Helms said Sunday after the Rays completed a sweep of the Marlins. The Marlins have survived a daunting stretch in which they have played 41 of their past 48 games against teams with winning records. Now they head into the All-Star break with 10 of ..."

Price leads Rays past Marlins

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June 29

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"As the forlorn Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! packed up for the short journey back to South Florida on Sunday after the torrid Rays completed the three-game sweep, manager Fredi Gonzalez joked he would've taken June off if someone had told him his club would go 10-8 against the rugged AL East in interleague play. Unfortunately, the Rays are also in that division, and Florida's hitters took the lost weekend off as they scored seven runs while batting .208 (21 of 101). In the preceding five-game winning streak, the Marlins averaged 6.2 runs with a .311 average. More glaring was their inability to hit with runners in scoring position as they were 2 for 23, including 1 for 7 in Sunday's ..."

Tampa Bay Rays complete three-game sweep of Marlins to move into third place in AL East

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June 29

St. Petersburg Times

"The focus was on the left-hander who started the game, and David Price did well, working into the seventh inning and showing enough progress for the Rays to believe he'll soon be the consistent winner they envision. But the focal point Sunday was the left-hander who finished the game. J.P. Howell closed out his busy weekend by closing out a 5-2 series-sweeping win over the Marlins, then insisted he not be called the closer. Howell was the winner as the Rays rallied late Friday and again Saturday, and he was the savior Sunday, striking out the last two Marlins with the bases loaded, then pounding his glove in an unusual show of emotion. "It was intense," Howell said. "We wanted to finish it ..."

Leo Nunez ready to pitch, but closing will wait

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June 28

Miami Herald

"Leo Nunez is able to pitch. He's just not ready to close. Not yet, anyhow. On Saturday, Nunez was available to pitch in relief for the first time since Tuesday when a strained right ankle knocked him out of action. But manager Fredi Gonzalez said he would stick with Dan Meyer as his closer, at least for the time being. Gonzalez said he wanted to see how Nunez performed first before testing him in a late-inning situation. ''I'm not going to put a guy out there [in a save situation] when we don't know how he's going to . . . close out a game,'' Gonzalez said. 'It's hard for me to say, `You're healthy,' and then throw him out there. So if we're going to use him, we're going to use him early ..."

Johnson gains All-Star support

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June 28

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"Ace right-hander Josh Johnson, who didn't earn a decision in Friday's 7-3 loss to the Rays, is probably the only player on the Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! not to vote for him for the All-Star Game. Although the starting lineup in the midsummer classic is predominantly based on fans' voting, players, coaches and managers got their chance to cast ballots this weekend. "In my opinion, he should be the starter," said two-time All-Star second baseman Dan Uggla. "It's not hard to know who you don't want to go up and face. If they're lucky enough to get on base, they say to me, 'Man, he's got nasty stuff.'" Johnson (7-1, 2.76 ERA), who allowed three runs on seven hits in six innings ..."

Interesting homecoming for Coghlan

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June 28

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"To the more than 100 family members and friends who came to cheer for Tampa-grown Chris Coghlan Friday night at Tropicana Field, the Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! rookie left fielder is a hero. But to Coghlan, the one family member missing, younger brother Kevin, is the true hero. He recently finished two terms in Iraq with the Marines, and is currently debriefing in Hawaii before ending his four-year stint in September. "I look at him as the hero,'' said Coghlan, who is batting .329 over his last 19 games. "He looks at that way, too, calling me, asking about baseball because he wants to know about stuff going on in the world. Every time I see him I tell him how proud and how much ..."

Marlins lose 'Heartbreaker' to Rays and Benatar

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June 28

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"The combination of a postgame concert by '80s rocker Pat Benatar, an injury-riddled bullpen and the Rays' speed was too much for the Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! to overcome in Saturday's 3-2 loss. On Friday, the combination of Renyel Pinto and Brian Sanches turned Josh Johnson's 3-3 outing into a 7-3 loss. On Saturday, with relievers Matt Lindstrom and Kiko Calero residing on the disabled list, Burke Badenhop took over in the ninth and gave up a walk-off sacrifice fly to pinch-hitter Willie Aybar to spoil Chris Volstad's second consecutive solid start (two runs in six innings). "I thought Chris showed poise and grit, throwing 116 pitches and keeping us in the ballgame,'' Marlins ..."

Aybar's pinch-hit sacrifice fly gives Tampa Bay Rays fourth straight win

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June 28

St. Petersburg Times

"The Rays didn't need to hit the Marlins with their best shot. A ninth-inning bloop single and stolen base by Jason Bartlett, a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly by Willy Aybar were enough for a thrilling 3-2 win that extended their perfect Saturday night concert series record to 11 straight over two seasons before '80s rocker Pat Benatar took the stage. "Kind of a cool thing," manager Joe Maddon said. "We should have them more often." The result was important, as the Rays moved to six games over .500 for the first time this season at 41-35 and moved into a tie for third place with Toronto, six games behind the Red Sox. Their 33-21 record since April 30 is the best in the AL (following their ..."

Coghlan happy to hear about Iwamura

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June 27

Palm Beach Post

"Marlins left fielder Chris Coghlan received good news this week that had nothing to do with his team climbing in the standings. Coghlan said it was "exciting" to learn that Akinori Iwamura's knee injury was not as serious as first thought and the Rays' second baseman could return by mid August. Iwamura was injured May 24 on a Coghlan slide. Iwamura was expected to be out for the season. "I prayed for him," Coghlan said. "You don't want anybody to get hurt." Coghlan, who lives in Tarpon Springs and played at East Lake High in Pinellas County, sought out Iwamura that night to apologize. Friday was Coghlan's first game in Tampa since Iwamura's injury. Rays manager Joe Maddon was asked ..."

Ross erases slow start with torrid month

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June 27

Miami Herald

"After suffering through an April worth forgetting, Cody Ross is having a June to remember. His .346 batting average for the month ranks ninth in the National League, and his six home runs and 1.023 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) also put him among the top 10 NL players for the month. ''I've always felt like I get better as the season gets going,'' Ross said. ``For some reason, it just takes me a while to get going.'' Ross is coming off an 8-for-13 series against Baltimore and is hitting .283 overall. He started the season by hitting .213 in April. The outfielder's improvement at the plate is one reason why he has attracted trade interest from other clubs. The Atlanta Braves ..."

Marlins Depleted bullpen falters against Rays

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June 27

Miami Herald

"The Marlins bullpen is hurting, and Friday it showed. With three prominent relievers sidelined with injuries, what remained of the team's battered bullpen fell apart late, and the Tampa Bay Rays broke away for a 7-3 victory at Tropicana Field. The Rays took advantage of a pair of walks, a wild pitch and a key, two-out double by B.J. Upton in the eighth inning to snap a 3-3 tie and bring the Marlins' five-game winning streak to an end. ''Late in the games, putting guys on with walks, it's going to come back and haunt you,'' Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said. ``You're asking for trouble.'' In the decisive eighth, the Rays coaxed two walks out of left-handed reliever Renyel Pinto and a wild ..."

Rays swipe late win

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June 27

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"Proving the old adage that 'speed kills,' the Tampa Rays stole a 7-3 victory from the Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! Friday night to snap their five-game winning streak at Tropicana Field. Perhaps more annoying to Fredi Gonzalez' crew is that they blew an opportunity to move into a first-place tie for the first time since May 9 as the floundering Phillies lost again. While Marlins young ace Josh Johnson turned in his customary six-inning, quality start (his 14th), he was victimized by not paying attention to details such as holding the Rays runners close. Johnson allowed three runs on seven hits as the Marlins fall to 12-4 in his starts. The lightning-quick combination of B.J. Upton ..."

Interesting homecoming for Coghlan

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June 27

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"To the more than 100 family members and friends who came to cheer for Tampa-grown Chris Coghlan Friday night at Tropicana Field, the Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! rookie left fielder is a hero. But to Coghlan, the one family member missing, younger brother Kevin, is the true hero. He recently finished two terms in Iraq with the Marines, and is currently debriefing in Hawaii before ending his four-year stint in September. "I look at him as the hero,'' said Coghlan, who is batting .329 over his last 19 games. "He looks at that way, too, calling me, asking about baseball because he wants to know about stuff going on in the world. Every time I see him I tell him how proud and how much ..."

Rays beat Marlins 7-3 as Upton leads the way

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June 27

St. Petersburg Times

"B.J. Upton is showing the blend of speed and power from the leadoff spot that the Rays envisioned. The speedy centerfielder started the season slow at the plate, partly due to a spring spent rehabbing from offseason shoulder surgery. But Upton has been putting things together and, as teammates say, has thrived in clutch situations. Upton did just that Friday night, coming through with a three-run double with two outs in the eighth to lift the Rays to a 7-3 victory over the Marlins in front of 20,972 at Tropicana Field. "The big moments, he's feeding off that now," said J.P. Howell, who earned the win with 11/3 scoreless innings of relief. "He's playing with zero percent fear, and he's ..."

Upton leads Rays past Marlins

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June 27

Tampa Tribune

"The Rays' mission against the hot Marlins was clear Friday night: Keep the game close and get it to the bullpens, where Tampa Bay had an advantage. They did exactly that, breaking out with four runs in the eighth inning against Florida relievers to beat their South Florida neighbors 7-3. The Rays moved to a season-high five games over .500 (40-35) and 3-1 on a six-game homestand that included three against the defending World Series champion Phillies. Tampa Bay also has taken 10 of the past 12 in the Citrus Series. After an expected pitching duel between James Shields and Josh Johnson materialized, the Rays got a three-run double from surging B.J. Upton in the bottom of the eighth against ..."

Tampa Bay Rays beat Florida Marlins 7-3 as B.J. Upton leads the way

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June 27

St. Petersburg Times

"B.J. Upton is showing the blend of speed and power from the leadoff spot that the Rays envisioned. The speedy centerfielder started the season slow at the plate, partly due to a spring spent rehabbing from offseason shoulder surgery. But Upton has been putting things together and, as teammates say, has thrived in clutch situations. Upton did just that Friday night, coming through with a three-run double with two outs in the eighth to lift the Rays to a 7-3 victory over the Marlins in front of 20,972 at Tropicana Field. "The big moments, he's feeding off that now," said J.P. Howell, who earned the win with 11/3 scoreless innings of relief. "He's playing with zero percent fear, and he's ..."

Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins slam Baltimore Orioles

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June 26

Palm Beach Post

"Hanley Ramirez took a well-deserved curtain call Thursday night. Cody Ross and Dan Uggla each drilled two-run home runs in Florida's 11-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles, which moved the Marlins to within one game of the first-place Phillies in the National League East. But it was Ramirez who delivered the knockout punch. With two outs in the eighth inning, he drilled a 1-2 pitch over the left-field scoreboard for his third grand slam of the year and his second slam in three games. "It feels good when you see those fans cheering for you and the whole team. It's a different feeling," Ramirez said after he acknowledged a long ovation from 12,822. Ramirez, who also hit a grand slam Tuesday, ..."

Josh Johnson will get All-Star votes from all of his Florida Marlins teammates

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June 26

Palm Beach Post

"Marlins pitcher Josh Johnson will get the support of his 24 teammates when players cast their All-Star votes Friday. Florida players hope the rest of the National League supports Johnson, too. "I don't know what he's got to do to get some publicity to make the All-Star team. He's one of the best pitchers in the game, if not the best,'' said second baseman Dan Uggla. "I'm sure he's got everybody's vote around the league. I'm waiting for these guys (the Marlins) to start doing something to get his name out there. He definitely deserves it.'' The Marlins display posters of shortstop Hanley Ramirez around Land Shark Stadium, urging fans to vote for him in the balloting that determines starting ..."

Online balloting to decide '09 All-Stars

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June 26

MLB.com

"We, the people, are deciding who goes to the 80th All-Star Game July 14 in St. Louis.We are ready for the mad rush.We are entering that Validation Key over and over, submitting our 25 allotted votes in the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Online Ballot at MLB.com.We punched those Walt Disney Pictures G-Force All-Star Game paper ballots and left those little chads all over ballparks, and now those last paper ballots are being collected tonight at Pittsburgh and Houston as it goes online-only for the homestretch.We know it's the final week to decide starters. Our deadline as empowered fans is 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, and we know that only because we have been staring at this javascript voting app ..."

Mother's Day bats now up for auction

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June 26

MLB.com

"It has been a big first half of baseball for current American League All-Star first baseman vote front-runner Mark Teixeira, and that included that memorable Mother's Day game back in his hometown of Baltimore, where he crushed a two-run homer for the Yankees.He was swinging a pink bat."It's obviously huge -- I think that's the first home run I've hit with a pink bat, so I'm going to go bring that to Mom right now," Teixeira said on May 9, referring to Margy, a breast cancer survivor who had been diagnosed when he was a freshman at Baltimore's St. Joseph's High School. "As soon as I hit it, I thought about it. It's pretty special to me."Margy may have gotten that pink bat, but another one ..."

Florida Marlins make show of power, sweep Baltimore Orioles

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June 26

Miami Herald

"Fredi Gonzalez didn't have to worry about making any tough, late-game decisions. And his tired and beat-up bullpen didn't have to deal with any extra stress Thursday night. Behind six strong innings from rookie Sean West and a pair of two-run homers from Cody Ross and Dan Uggla, the Marlins delivered all the thrills early -- and late -- as they continued their red-hot run in June by wrapping up a three-game sweep of the Orioles with an 11-3 victory in front of 12,822 at Land Shark Stadium. ''It was just a great series for us all around -- pitching, defense, hitting,'' said Ross, who was watching the TV in the clubhouse as the Marlins closed to a game behind the Phillies for first place in ..."

West keeps rotation in sync

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June 26

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"Starting something: Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! starters, most recently Sean West (six shutout innings of four-hit ball), have been outstanding lately. Over the current five-game winning streak, the rotation went 4-0 with a 1.36 ERA, nine walks and 22 strikeouts in 33 innings. RBI man: Hanley Ramirez's five-RBI effort gave him 11 in the series and 13 over his past four games. He also scored three times, putting him on pace for a 100-run, 102-RBI season. Leaning left: The Marlins torched left-hander Rich Hill for six runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings. They have won 10 of their past 13 and 18 of 26 against left-handed starters. First timer: Right-hander Tim Wood finally made his ..."

Marlins complete sweep of Orioles

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June 26

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"From two lockers away Jorge Cantu gave Hanley Ramirez the playful stink eye after Thursday's 11-3, series-sweeping win over the Orioles. Ramirez, who hits a spot ahead of Cantu, drove in five runs, four coming on his second grand slam in three games. Not a lot left for Cantu to mop up. "Greedy," Cantu joked. Behind Ramirez (3 for 5) and two-run homers from Cody Ross and Dan Uggla, the Marlins punished the Orioles with 17 hits to complete a 5-1 homestand. The current five-game winning streak is the longest since the Marlins strung together seven in a row from April 12-19. Ramirez and Ross each have three grand slams, tying the single-season franchise record they share with Bobby Bonilla ..."

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