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Mike Stanton News & Rumors

Grand slam by Miami Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton clocked at 122.4 mph
"Giancarlo Stanton's 438-foot, laser-beam grand slam Monday night drew plenty of attention across the country because it temporarily knocked out a portion of the left-field scoreboard at the Marlins' new ballpark. But the big blast was historic and memorable for many more reasons than just a busted scoreboard. For starters, it was fast — maybe the fastest ever. The ball was clocked at 122.4 mph, the fastest home run ball hit since hittrackeronline.com started charting baseball's biggest homers in 2006. By comparison, the next fastest home run hit this season — a 117.5 mph burner by two-time reigning home run champion Jose Bautista in Toronto — was 5 mph slower."
Monster slam puts Marlins Stanton in elite company
"No wonder the momentous grand slam Giancarlo Stanton hit Monday against Jamie Moyer temporarily knocked out a portion of the video display of the auxiliary scoreboard at Marlins Park. Stanton's rocket shot had the highest velocity off the bat ever recorded by ESPN Home Run Tracker, which began in 2006, at 122.4 mph. That easily topped one of 112 mph by the Red Sox's David Ortiz. It also put Stanton in elite company as one of four with four grand slams before age 23, joining Ted Williams, Eddie Mathews and Ken Griffey, Jr. "That's good company. Maybe I'll get five before 23. Let's keep it going," said Stanton, who struck out with the bases loaded in his next at-bat. "I had a chance to get"
Rockies get crushed by Giancarlo Stanton's grand slam
"It should come as no surprise that in a ballpark with fish tanks for backstops, the home team can sense blood in the water. The Rockies might as well have been a minnow in the fourth inning as Giancarlo Stanton flashed his fangs and devoured any chance of a victory with a breathtaking 438-foot grand slam in the Marlins' 7-4 win Monday night. Jamie Moyer made history by pitching in his 50th different ballpark, but it's the Rockies that are challenging the record books with their awful May. They are off to their third-worst start after 41 games, tying the 2008 club, and have dropped seven of their last nine on the road."
Stanton playing lights-out ball: Grand slam KO's part of Marlins Park scoreboard
"Giancarlo Stanton cast new light on the term knockout blow with one mighty swing Monday night. Stanton's shot heard 'round Marlins Park not only KO'd the second-oldest starting pitcher in major league history, it broke the auxiliary scoreboard in left field. The second dramatic grand slam this month by the slugging right fielder wiped out an early deficit and propelled the Marlins to a 7-4 victory over the Rockies to open a 10-game homestand. A blackened window in the lower-left portion of the scoreboard marked the impact of Stanton's 438-foot clout off Jamie Moyer in the fourth inning until the display was restored the following inning."
Giancarlo Stanton's grand slam caps Miami Marlins' comeback in win over Rockies
"With the type of power he possesses, the Marlins figured it was only a matter of time before Giancarlo Stanton started putting a few dents into their shiny, new $650 million ballpark. Go ahead and count the digital scoreboard in left field as victim No. 1. With 49-year-old Jamie Moyer trying to tap dance his way out of trouble in the fourth inning, the 22-year-old Stanton sent 25,155 fans at Marlins Park into a frenzy — and the home team on its way to a 7-4 victory over the Rockies — when he crushed a 438-foot grand slam off the scoreboard, temporarily knocking out some lights."
Giancarlo Stanton's home run, dazzling dive help Miami Marlins to key win over Braves
"Life, slowly but surely, had begun sneaking into the Miami Marlins' bats earlier this month, but Wednesday night's game against the Braves might have proven that it had finally settled into them for at least the foreseeable future. For the second straight game, a big, multi-run fourth-inning helped jumpstart Miami's once stagnant offense. Muscling their way to an 8-4 win at Turner Field, the Marlins picked up a key early-season victory over a surging division rival. "We knew coming into the season that they were going to be good," Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen said about the Braves."
Stanton powers Marlins past Mets with walk-off slam
"Had he needed to sprint out of the box, unsure whether cavernous Marlins Park would hold it, Giancarlo Stanton still would have relished the walk-off grand slam. That wasn't the case though. As soon as Stanton connected on Manny Acosta's first offering, he realized along with everyone in both dugouts and 26,401 Mothers' Day fans that he need not rush. The third grand slam of Stanton's career and second walk-off homer capped a six-run ninth that sent the Marlins to a come-from-behind, 8-4 win over the Mets. Winners of 10 of their last 12, the Marlins also walked off the Mets Friday and have now won four straight series. They can boast 11 comeback wins, two of which came when they trailed"
Change in batting stance sparks Miami Marlins' resurgent Giancarlo Stanton
"Giancarlo Stanton could be back in the cleanup spot for the Marlins as early as Tuesday. Manager Ozzie Guillen said he thought about putting Stanton back in the four-hole Monday but decided against it because Logan Morrison was 4 for 8 in his career against Astros starter Wandy Rodriguez. "I think when you're winning you try to leave stuff as it is, make it easy for everyone," Guillen said. Stanton said moving his hands back four inches in his stance is what has made all the difference in his swing since the end of April. Stanton went into Monday night's game hitting .344 with two doubles, five home runs and 10 RBI since April 28. He was hitting .234 with no homers and five RBI before"
Cishek, Stanton bail out Bell in Marlins' win over Giants
"The two words manager Ozzie Guillen used to characterize Steve Cishek after Wednesday's 3-2, 10-inning win against the Giants: Cold blood. Not as in cold-blooded killer, rather more in the ice-water-in-the-veins sense. Witnessing Cishek's performance, Guillen's intended point was well taken. Cishek minimized the ninth-inning damage, sending the game to extras, and made Giancarlo Stanton's 10th-inning solo homer hold up with a one-two-three bottom half."
Miami Marlins fall to Arizona Diamondbacks; Stanton gets first home run of the season
"Maybe they should have left the roof open. Less than 24 hours after Hanley Ramirez led a come-from-behind walk-off win, the Marlins' bats slipped back into a slumber Sunday afternoon. With heavy rain pouring down in South Florida, the retractable roof protected 34,918 fans at Marlins Park from getting wet. But it couldn't shield the Marlins from falling under Wade Miley's spell. Miley, a 25-year old Diamondbacks lefty, made his ninth career start. He became the latest opposing starter to bring down his ERA average against the Fish, giving up one run in 6?1/3 innings in Arizona's 8-4 victory."
Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton waiting for first home run
"Hanley Ramirez tied Miguel Cabrera for third place on the Marlins' all-time home run list Wednesday night, but the player many expected to be lighting up the home run sculpture in center field on a regular basis — right fielder Giancarlo Stanton — is still looking for his first home run of the season after 13 games. Is the team leader in home runs in 2011 surprised he hasn't hit one out yet? Well, not exactly. He's also not pressing, either. "Last year it took me forever to hit my first one," Stanton said Thursday, referring to how it took him 14 games and 38 at-bats before he finally put one out."
Knee issues persist for Marlins' Stanton, Morrison
"Marlins corner outfielders Giancarlo Stanton and Logan Morrison have two completely healthy knees between them. After missing most of spring training, both are playing catch up. Trouble is, their iffy knees may not permit them to play every day for a while. Stanton missed Monday's game against the Phillies after a flare-up of inflammation in his left knee that bothered him in spring training. An examination by the Phillies' team doctor Tuesday revealed no structural damage, but he expects the problem to persist through the season."
Stanton striving to be more than power threat
"His eyes don't stop on the Hall of Famers. Giancarlo Stanton scans the list and the names he notices are those of Andruw Jones, Bob Horner, Tony Conigliaro. Stanton last season joined that trio and nine others as the only players in major league history to reach 50 career homers before turning 22. Seven are in the Hall of Fame. Two others – Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez – are a good bet to get there as well. "Just have to keep that going," Stanton said. "There are a few guys no one really knows about on that list, too. It's something you can't fall into. 'Oh, I did this at such a young age, now I can settle back and relax.' You keep pushing. It's a competition and our team gets"
Giancarlo Stanton's knee might be hurting, but his swing still has pop
"Giancarlo's Stanton right knee might be an issue, but his swing certainly isn't. Stanton connected on a pair of home runs in a minor-league scrimmage Saturday, including one monstrous blast off Anibal Sanchez that produced oohs and ahhs. The home run off Sanchez sailed far over the fence in center and into a stand of trees. It also produced a reaction from Sanchez, who turned to Stanton as he was rounding first and noted, "Now you can run." Stanton was under orders not to leg out any hits or ground balls so as not to risk further injury to his knee. Logan Morrison, who is also dealing with a sore right knee, received several at-bats in the scrimmage, which involved Triple A and Double A"
Giancarlo Stanton out with knee problem
"Right fielder Giancarlo Stanton said Friday he has "a little inflammation" in his left knee that was revealed by an MRI on Wednesday. Stanton, the Marlins' home run leader last year, said he's not sure whether he'll be back by March 25, when Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen said he'd like to have the lineup ready to go for the season. If that's the case, Stanton said, he'd like to be back by the April?1 and 2 exhibition games at Marlins Park against the New York Yankees "so I'm not going straight into the season." Stanton is unsure when the injury occurred, but he knows all about knee pain and swelling. He said he played through it all last season. Stanton is 2 for 9 this spring, and the four"
Pitch hits Giancarlo Stanton's wrist; X-rays negative
"Reliever Edward Mujica gently lifted Giancarlo Stanton's injured wrist to his mouth and kissed the orange bandage that surrounded it. First baseman Gaby Sanchez took one look at the slugger and remarked, "You can't hurt steel." It certainly seems that's the case with the Marlins' young cleanup hitter. Stanton, who led the Marlins with 34 home runs last season, was hit by a pitch on Sunday in the Marlins' rain-shortened win over the New York Mets. Stanton was moving his hand and wrist afterward as he dressed, and X-rays came back negative. "It's not too bad right now," Stanton said. "We'll see [Monday]. It'll be nice and fat.""
Mike Stanton decides he will now be known as birth name Giancarlo Stanton
"Mike Stanton must have gotten tired of being confused with the former lefty specialist of the same name. Actually, the Miami Marlins slugger figured his first name is pretty cool and he should use it. Henceforth, he will go by Giancarlo Stanton. The change already is reflected on his baseball-reference.com page. Not quite as shocking as Leo Nunez becoming Juan Carlos Oviedo, but significant nonetheless. Stanton's official name is Giancarlo Cruz-Michael Stanton. Tired of having to correct everyone, Stanton as a youth went by Mike."
Stanton on home run pace with Mays, Pujols
"Omar Infante was the hero Monday night for the Marlins. Mike Stanton remains the story. The 21-year old had his fourth career multi-homer game and second of the season. And the ones tonight were mammoth. His first big bop -- a solo home run which gave the Marlins a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first -- landed in section 411, about 10 rows up, between the Dolphins' Ring of Honor memorials for Jim Langer and Paul Warfield in left field. By most observers estimations, the only guy who has hit one deeper into the upper deck here was Andres Galarraga -- a 529-foot shot -- back on May 31, 1997."
Marlins need 12 innings to top Braves, extend winning streak to 4
"The hamstring is not 100 percent, but Mike Stanton can still generate enough drive with his lower half to win a game. Pinch-hitting in the 12th with two on and two out, Stanton ripped a Christian Martinez pitch through the left side to knock in the go-ahead run in the Marlins 5-4 win at Turner Field late Monday. The Marlins, who lost leads of 2-0 and 4-2, improved to 8-12 in extra innings and can boast their first four-game winning streak since winning five straight July 23-28. The bullpen was four outs from giving starter Chris Volstad his first win since July 10. Instead, with two outs and none on in the eighth, Heyward made to it second on an infield-single and errant throw from Donnie"
Marlins' Mike Stanton injures right leg vs. Phillies
"Mike Stanton, the Marlins' best run producer, left Saturday's game with a leg injury. Stanton, who earlier hit his 32nd home run, was hustling on a soft grounder to second and hit the bag awkwardly as he extended with his left leg. He sprawled facedown past first base and remained down for a couple of minutes before walking slowly to the dugout. The Marlins reported that Stanton had right hamstring tightness and he was listed as day to day. After the game manager Jack McKeon said the injury appears minor and Stanton could return as soon as Monday."
Stanton tied for NL home run lead
"Mike Stanton's opposite-field blast into the upper deck at Citi Field last night put him into a tie for the National League home run lead with Albert Pujols and Matt Kemp. The three players have each hit 31 home runs, and the race figures to go down to the wire. Looming just behind the leaders are Dan Uggla and Lance Berkman with 30 home runs each, and Prince Fielder and Ryan Howard with 29."
Florida Marlins discussing long-term contract for 21-year-old slugger Mike Stanton
"Slugger Mike Stanton hasn't played a full major-league season yet, but the Marlins are already thinking about making him a fixture at their new ballpark. The Marlins have been having preliminary internal talks about a possible long-term contract for the 21-year-old right fielder. The team hasn't come up with anything specific in terms of money and years, according to a person familiar with the situation, who said an offer probably wouldn't be made until next year. Stanton went into Friday leading the Marlins with 25 home runs and 67 RBI. He had 47 homers in his first 205 games since being called up from Class AA Jacksonville in June 2010. He is making $416,000 this year and is under club"
Stanton's grand slam in the 10th leads Marlins to victory
"The first time Mike Stanton visited Citi Field this season, he blasted one of the longest home runs the park had ever seen. On Monday night, he belted another memorable blast — a 10th-inning grand slam off Jason Isringhausen to lift the Marlins to a 7-3 win after Leo Nunez blew what would have been his 12th consecutive save with two outs in the ninth. "I was just trying to make sure I put the ball in play," said Stanton, who has 25 homers this season, tied for third in the National League. "It was just good to come through after the [Angel] Pagan play in the ninth [before the home run]. I just knew I was going to have a chance to make up for it." The Marlins, who put together a"
Stanton completes Marlins' win in grand fashion
"Mike Stanton was partly responsible for the Mets' game-tying, two-run rally in the ninth Monday. He also had a little something to do with the Marlins' game-winning rally in the 10th. With one out and the bases loaded, Stanton drilled a Jason Isringhausen full count pitch into the first row of the left-field bleachers at Citi Field. His second career grand slam sent the Marlins to a series-opening 7-3 win, which guarantees no worse than a 5-4 road trip with two to play. "I was trying to make sure I put the ball in play at least," said Stanton, who joined Greg Colbrunn (July 18, 1995) as the only Marlins ever to hit an extra-inning grand slam. "Right off the bat I knew it would at least get"
Marlins' Stanton unwilling to settle for just being a gifted star
"Baseball fans would pay to watch Mike Stanton do a lot of things on the diamond. Pay to see him hit batting practice bombs to the upper-most territories of Dolphins Stadium, the way he seems to do every time he steps into the cage. Pay to see him hit in-game home runs, opposite-field feats of pure strength like the one he hit off Mike Pelphrey on Friday. Maybe even pay to see him even throw lasers from right field or show off some speed on the bases. What you wouldn't want to see him do is walk. Not base-on-balls walk. Just plain walk. Looks uncomfortable. Maybe even a little painful, depending on the expression on his face."
Mike Stanton, Hanley Ramirez shine in Florida Marlins' 13-3 win over Cubs
"Mike Stanton said he typically sleeps in until noon or later. So does Hanley Ramirez. Given the events in a loss to the Cubs the day before — one compounded by their individual gaffes — neither minded when their hotel alarms rang at 8?a.m. Saturday for their noon start at Wrigley Field. They rose and they shined in a 13-3 thumping of the Cubs. Stanton belted two home runs and Ramirez cranked out three doubles as the Marlins made up for Friday's 2-1 loss with a laugher over the Cubs. "The loss [Friday] was the type of loss we had all throughout June," Stanton said. "We'd let it soak into us and took it to the next game. [On Saturday], we just bounced back the way we should have." Said"
Stanton homers twice as Marlins thrash Cubs
"Including Friday's six-game winning-streak snapping loss, the final score in five of the nine contests the Marlins have dropped under Jack McKeon was either 2-1 or 1-0. Saturday, the Marlins treated McKeon to a rare blowout. Mike Stanton homered twice, Hanley Ramirez stroked three doubles, and six different players knocked in runs as the Marlins trounced the Cubs 13-3 at Wrigley Field. Half of the club's 14 hits went for extra bases as they scored 10 or more for the first time in 2011. "It was a nice win after [Friday's] sad performance," McKeon said. "We should have won that one, too." Friday, Stanton watched a ball drop between him and Omar Infante, allowing two unearned runs to score in"
Stanton's walk-off home run sends Marlins past Phillies in 10
"Mike Stanton's vision may not be 100 percent after last month's eye infection, but he saw Danys Baez's 2-1 pitch in the 10th inning just fine. Stanton lined the slider over the left-field wall, propelling the Marlins to a 7-6 victory over the Phillies at Sun Life Stadium on Wednesday. The Phillies, who lost an early four-run cushion and got two homers from John Mayberry, were vying for a three-game sweep and their 22nd win in 26 games here. "If we have aspirations to move up in the standings we have to beat those guys," said manager Jack McKeon, whose team had lost seven straight to the Phillies. Stanton's homer was his first in 83 at-bats. He hadn't gone deep since a June 11 home game"
Mike Stanton still having vision problems
"Mike Stanton is continuing to experience vision problems in his right eye, which he said is causing him to struggle at the plate. Stanton struck out 17 times in 36 at-bats during the just-concluded road trip. And twice during the trip he struck out four times in one game. "I'm having trouble seeing still," said Stanton, who was treated for an eye infection that caused him to miss several games last month."
Gaby Sanchez pushes Mike Stanton for Home Run Derby
"Marlins All-Star Gaby Sanchez knows what a treat it is to watch teammate Mike Stanton hit long home runs in batting practice and in games. That's why Sanchez is trying to pull his University of Miami strings to put Stanton in the All-Star Home Run derby on July 11 in Phoenix. "It would be a great opportunity for him to get in (the Home Run Derby) because I want to see how far he can hit a baseball,' Sanchez said. Milwaukee slugger Prince Fielder, who is captain of the National League derby squad, will pick his league's participants. Sanchez said he sent a text message Sunday to Fielder's teammate, Ryan Braun, who was Sanchez's University of Miami teammate in 2004-05. "'You've got to tell"
Florida Marlins' Gaby Sanchez: Stanton should be in derby
"Gaby Sanchez might be the only Marlins player in the All-Star Game — for now. The first baseman is working to bring some company. The 27-year-old said he text messaged former University of Miami teammate Ryan Braun on Sunday morning to try and influence his Brewers teammate, Prince Fielder, into picking Mike Stanton for the Home Run Derby. As captain of the NL home run derby team, Fielder gets to pick the participants. "Mike told me if he ever did the home run derby, he would actually let loose in [batting practice]," Sanchez said. "If right now he's not letting loose, I could just imagine what would happen if he did let loose. "If you want to have a home run derby, those are the guys you"
Mike Stanton keeps his cool after shove by fan, impressing teammates
"Mike Stanton's long home runs are impressive enough, but it's what the Marlins slugger didn't do at Safeco Field over the weekend that was even more impressive to his teammates. Marlins players praised Stanton for keeping his cool and ignoring two rowdy fans who shoved him in the back after he made a running catch against the right-field railing Friday night. The two fans were ejected from the game by first-base umpire Wally Bell, who quickly intervened before the incident escalated. "They were both over, had one foot (on the field), trying to catch the foul ball,' Stanton said. "I caught it, stopped running, turned around (to jog back into right field) and one of them pushed me.' Stanton"
Stanton Ks four times, plus gets shoved by fan Friday
"Right fielder Mike Stanton had a rough day Friday. Not only did he strike out four times for the second time in his career in the 5-1 Marlins loss, he had to endure inappropriate contact from a fan. In the eighth inning, Stanton ranged into foul territory to make a catch. A fan leaned over as Stanton was walking away and gave him a little shove with his gloved hand. That prompted Stanton to stop and glare back into the seats. Crew chief Wally Bell, who was at first base Friday, saw the incident and alerted security. The fan was removed."
Blurred vision causes Stanton to miss second straight game
"Mike Stanton was out of the lineup for the second straight game Sunday, as he has been sidelined with blurred vision in his right eye. "I have never had something like this," Stanton said. "I am not helping the team. If anything I am hurting them by the way I am playing." Stanton is the Marlins prime power hitter, and leads the team in home runs with 16. He was 2-for-19 in his last five games before being scratched from Saturday's lineup."
Mike Stanton out of Marlins lineup with eye infection
"The news keeps getting worse for the struggling Marlins. After taking batting practice before Saturday's game against the Rays, outfielder Mike Stanton told manager Edwin Rodriguez that he was having trouble seeing out of his right eye and Stanton was scratched from the lineup. "He said it has been bothering him a while but today it was getting worse," Rodriguez said. The Marlins said Stanton has an eye infection."
Mike Stanton out of lineup with eye infection
"Mike Stanton spent a lot of time during batting practice Saturday afternoon crushing pitches into the Tropicana Field bleachers. Apparently, the 21-year-old slugger was doing it with one good eye. About two hours before the first pitch of Saturday's game, the Marlins' home run leader was scratched from the lineup with what the team called a right eye infection. The Marlins are hoping Stanton, who is hitting .247 with 16 homers, won't be out for more than a couple days. "He said his right eye was bothering him," Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez said. "He was seeing the ball a little blurry, not 100 percent — especially the middle, away pitch. That's when I decided to scratch him out of the"
Pitching coach Randy St. Claire's fine line; Mike Stanton and Logan Morrison as Batman and Robiin?
"A key part of Marlins pitching coach Randy St. Claire's job is to know what he can and can't say to pitchers during games. Visits to the mound do not happen when things are going well, and St. Claire said it is important not to make things worse. "As a whole, guys don't like it," St. Claire said. "You have to pick and choose how difficult you want to make it." St. Claire was referring to the advice he gives when on the mound. Obviously the pitcher is struggling if St. Claire is there, and the question is what can be done to salvage the situation. On June 3 Ricky Nolasco was laboring, and St. Claire went to the mound in the third inning. "His front side was throwing open. It was the same"
Mike Stanton wows crowd in batting practice
"There was a time not too long ago when fans across the country showed up early to watch Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire and other sluggers put on power displays during batting practice. Mike Stanton hasn't developed such a following yet, but he is building a big fan base at AT&T Park. Before Tuesday's game, he received a loud ovation from several thousand Giants fans who saw him drill a ball just to the left of the 501-foot sign in left-center field. According to ace Josh Johnson, the ball bounced off the concourse and nearly hit the giant glove and Coca-Cola bottle that stand as landmarks in the stadium. "Amazing," Johnson said of the blast. "I guess somebody talked to a fan who has come to all"
Sanchez makes Stanton's solo homer stand in 1-0 Marlins' win
"Here are the pitch velocities Mike Stanton saw from Livan Hernandez in his seventh inning at-bat Saturday: 85, 64, 87, 68, 87. It was one of the few occasions a Marlins batter didn't return to the dugout with his timing in a discombobulating state. Down 0-2, Stanton worked a 2-2 count and squared up the fifth offering, lining it over the left-center field wall to give Anibal Sanchez the lone run he needed in a series-clinching 1-0 win at Nationals Park. "Stanton hits the ball as hard as anybody in major league baseball," said Nationals manager Jim Riggleman, who's watched the slugger bang six homers in eight games here. "It's amazing. He hits balls that look like the trajectory of a single"
Mike Stanton comes to the rescue in win over Cardinals
"Mark McGwire said Wednesday he can't imagine what kind of home run numbers Mike Stanton will put up once his 6-6, 250-pound body fills out and he has a full major league season under his belt. So far, the month of May is shaping up nice for Stanton. Wednesday, the 21-year old slugger belted his third home run in four days -- definitely his most important of the three -- to lift the Marlins to a 8-7 win over the Cardinals in front in front of 34,324 at Busch Stadium. With the score tied at 6 in the ninth, Stanton drilled a 1-0, 93-mile per hour fastball from Cardinals rookie Eduardo Sanchez 431-feet into the bleachers just to the left of center field. The two-run bomb turned out to be just"
Mike Stanton leads Marlins to win over St. Louis
"In a game marred by errors, unearned runs and overall ugly play, Mike Stanton salvaged an 8-7 win for the Marlins over the Cardinals on Wednesday with a thing of beauty — a two-run, no-doubt home run in the top of the ninth inning. Stanton's 431-foot blast to left-center was his third home run in the last four games, and the Marlins are now 16-0 in games when they hit a home run. The Marlins also assured themselves of at least a tie in the four-game series, and they have not lost a series since their season opener with the Mets. Stanton's home run gave the Marlins an 8-6 lead, but closer Leo Nunez allowed a pinch-hit home run to Jon Jay to make things interesting. But Nunez got his 11th"
Stanton's bases-loaded single sends Volstad, Marlins to win
"Down 0-2, Mike Stanton was anticipating something offspeed. Clayton Kershaw stuck with fastballs and justifiably so, considering he'd already turned two of Stanton's bats into kindling. By the end of that sixth-inning at-bat Tuesday, Stanton's bat remained intact and the Marlins had a lead they would not relinquish. Stanton's one-out, bases-loaded single sent the Marlins to a 4-2 win, their seventh in eight games and 10th in 12 outings. At 15-7, they remain on pace with the 2004 club for best start in franchise history through 22 games. For the first time in four starts, Chris Volstad was able to complete six innings. At 101 pitches, manager Edwin Rodriguez sent him out for the seventh and"
Stanton's blast sends Marlins to series win over hot Rockies
"For all the outstanding pitches — and there were plenty with Josh Johnson and Ubaldo Jimenez starting — Sunday's outcome hinged on who did more with probably the two most hittable offerings of the afternoon. Troy Tulowitzki got the first and Mike Stanton the second. Both hitters did their job, but one delivered a series victory in the process. Stanton's three-run, eighth-inning blast to the back of the blue seats in left off Matt Belisle propelled the Marlins to a 6-3 victory over the Rockies, who at 13-5 arrived in South Florida with the best winning percentage in the majors. In taking two of the three, the Marlins matched the best start in franchise history through 20 games (13-7, 2004)."
Marlins drop struggling Mike Stanton to No. 6 in batting order
"Despite playing in just four Grapefruit League games this spring, Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez thought he saw enough of Mike Stanton's bat that he was ready to hit in the fourth spot in the lineup. On Tuesday , Rodriguez said he had been wrong when explaining the lineup change that had Stanton hitting sixth with Gaby Sanchez moving to the cleanup spot. "I thought he was ready to go. I take the blame for that. I think that he needs more time, so I moved him down a little bit more so he can relax," Rodriguez said. Stanton is hitting .194 with no home runs and three RBI in 31 at-bats. "I've just got to get going a little bit, whatever that's going to take. If it's a move down in the"
Marlins only team with homerless No. 3, 4 hitters
"The Marlins open a nine-game homestand Tuesday with an 8-6 record, which is somewhat remarkable considering what little production they've received from their two, three and four hitters (Omar Infante, Hanley Ramirez and Mike Stanton). Entering the week, their two-hole hitters had the second-lowest on-base percentage (.266) in the National League. The Marlins are the only team in baseball yet to get a home run from either a No. 3 or No. 4 hitter. Only the Cubs among NL teams had fewer RBI through Sunday from the three spot (four) than the Marlins (five), who are tied with the Nationals and Padres. Only the Nationals (five) had fewer RBI from their cleanup hitters than the Marlins (six)."
Offense still waiting on Hanley Ramirez, Mike Stanton
"Hanley Ramirez and Mike Stanton — the Nos. 3 and 4 hitters for the Marlins — know the reason for the team's early-season success. And they know it doesn't involve them. "It's pitching," Ramirez said. "We're pitching good right now." Said Stanton: "For the most part, [the pitchers] are picking us up right now. We'll definitely be able to get over it and take care of business." Ramirez and Stanton have yet to homer this season. Stanton, who missed a week because of a hamstring injury, drove in a run with a broken-bat single Sunday. But that was only Stanton's third RBI. He's hitting .194, and has struck out 11 times in 31 at-bats. Ramirez has four RBI and is hitting .244, nowhere near his"
Marlins' 3-4 punch finally healthy and back in action
"It felt a little strange, but Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez finally was able to fill out a lineup card that contained the names of Hanley Ramirez and Mike Stanton. For the first time since Opening Day, the Marlins' Nos.?3 and 4 hitters appeared together in the starting lineup. "Writing Hanley and Michael Stanton back to back on the lineup, it makes you feel like you're solid offensively," Rodriguez said. "It's a matter of pitching and defense [now] because you know that lineup is going to find a way to score runs." That's the idea, anyhow. As Marlins general manager Michael Hill put it: "It's the lineup we put together in the offseason with those guys back in there batting three and"
Mike Stanton is OK at the plate, still can't run well
"Although Mike Stanton said he's feeling fine at the plate after missing a week with an injured hamstring, running the bases and fielding his position is a different story. "I definitely can't run at full speed," Stanton said. "I wasn't hurting out there, but I know dialing it up wouldn't be good." Stanton said that under normal circumstances, he would have come up with Hunter Pence's deep fly ball to right-center field Saturday. The ball hit off the wall for a double. "I would have got that," Stanton said."
Mike Stanton returns, but Greg Dobbs steals show for Marlins
"Something was different about him. Greg Dobbs stretched with his teammates before Saturday's game against the Astros, but he didn't look quite right. He wore a black jersey like everyone else. Dobbs' top seemed a little more resplendent. He emerged donning the club's alternate black game jersey instead of the black batting practice button down. If Dobbs was overanxious about making his first start as a Marlin, it didn't show once the game began. He went 3-for-4 with a tying two-run homer that positioned his team for a 7-5 victory over the Astros. The Marlins, 14-22 all-time at Minute Maid Park, can complete their first three-game sweep in Houston with a win in Sunday's matinee. "Guys were,"