Fish Bytes

Luis Ayala Joins Marlins Bullpen

               PHOENIX -- Luis Ayala is the newest member of the Marlins bullpen after being called up Sunday from Triple A New Orleans. The veteran right-hander received the call after the Marlins sent Sean West back to Double A Jacksonville after his poor start on Saturday.

               It'll be interesting to see how the Marlins use Ayala, who was released by the Minnesota Twins. Ayala has closed in the past -- he had nine saves as a fill-in closer for the New York Mets last season -- but has been used primarily in mid- to late-inning situations.

                                                                                  "He's done it all in his career, so I'm not opposed to using him in any situation, really," said manager Fredi Gonzalez.

              Said president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest: "We don't need a fifth starter until a week from Monday in San Diego. Really, we want to take a look at him and Brendan (Donnelly) to see if they can not only bring us experience, but also help us."

              On the closer situation, Beinfest said: "I think that Leo (Nunez) has shown that he can do it, and Dan (Meyer) has shown he can do it, and I think Fredi has a good feel for mixing and matching. We'll put him in the mix and see how he does."

              Ayala, 31, is familiar with many of his new Marlins teammates, having either played with or against a number of them. Ayala has been teammates with Jorge Cantu and Alfredo Amezaga on Mexican national teams. And, having spent nearly his entire major league career in the National League East with either the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals and New York Mets, he's also familiar with the Marlins from the opposite side.

              "He's just a lay-loose kind of guy," Cantu said. "He's got experience and he knows what he's doing. He's aggressive and comes right at you."

             Ayala made three appearances for New Orleans, throwing three shutout innings while allowing just one hit. The Twins released him, reportedly because Ayala expressed his unhappiness over not being used in the set-up role.

             "I don't want to say anything about the Twins, but sometimes the system you don't feel good," Ayala said. "But I feel good about coming here. I can do everything (any role)."

              Signing Ayala is costing the Marlins just $180,246 as the Twins are picking up the remainder of his contract.

              As for the now vacated fifth starter spot, it appears that Rick VandenHurk (4-1, 2.96 ERA in eight starts at New Orleans) is the heavy favorite to take over the role, though the Marlins don't need a fifth starter until July 20.

              "At that point, seeing how we feel, we could either go with 13 pitchers and move a position player, or just go pitcher for a pitcher," Gonzalez said of future roster scenarios.

             Here is today's lineup:

             1. Emilio Bonifacio, 3b; 2. Jeremy Hermida, lf; 3. Hanley Ramiez, ss; 4. Jorge Cantu, 1b; 5. Dan Uggla, 2b; 6. Cody Ross, cf; 7. Ronny Paulino, c; 8. Brett Carroll, rf; 9. Josh Johnson, p.

            

Sean West Returned to Minors

                    Sean West is headed back to Double A Jacksonville after another rough outing Saturday in Arizona. The Marlins opened the young lefty following the 5-1 loss to the Diamondbacks.

                    Since the Marlins don't need a fifth starter until July 20, they are expected to call up a reliever in time for Sunday's series finale in Arizona. Newly acquired reliever Luis Ayala would seem to be a logical candidate for that spot. Ayala has made three relief appearances at Triple A New Orleans since signing a minor-league contract and has given up just one hit.

                    Look for Rick VandenHurk to take over the fifth rotation spot once it becomes necessary. VandenHurk is 4-1 with a 2.96 ERA in eight starts for New Orleans.

                    As for West, manager Fredi Gonzalez said the young hurler needed more seasoning in the minors and, specifically, in developing his secondary pitches. Gonzalez and West agreed that relying on a fastball wasn't cutting it at the big-league level.

                    

Hanley Ramirez: "I was like a little kid"

                    Hanley Ramiez hadn't played in so long -- five consecutive games -- that he said he "was like a little kid" when he was inserted Thursday as a pinch-hitter and remained in the game at shortstop.

                    "Finally I was back on the diamond," he said.

                    Ramirez on Friday was in the starting lineup for the first time since July 4 when a tight hip flexor landed him on the bench.

                    But Ramirez said he is not even close to 100 percent. He could be seen whincing during his pinch-hit at bat, one that resulted in single, in Thursday's game.

                    "It's not something that's going to go away right away," Ramirez said. "It's a thing that's going to hurt pretty much for a couple of more days, or a week. I've got to keep getting treatment. The waythe pain has been going away, it looks like it's going to be a week, week and a half."

                   At least Ramirez is now confident he'll be able to play in Tuesday's All-Star Game, removing the remote chance that he might have to miss the game because of the injury. Hanging in Ramirez's locker were replica All-Star jerseys he intends to his father and two sons.

                   

The Lucky Bat

                  There's nothing remarkable about the bat Brett Carroll uses. It's a relatively common, Louisville Slugger, model S318. But if the Hall of Fame is paying attention, it might consider asking for the particular bat Carroll used Thursday in the Marlins' come-from-behind victory.

                  Carroll not only used it to hit his 3-run homer off Scott Schoeneweis, the blast that put the Marlins on top for good, but was also used by Hanley Ramirez when he singled two batters earlier. That's right, the same bat was good for not just two hits in the Marlins' 10-run eighth, but two pinch-hits, which is perhaps a major league first.

                                                   Manager Fredi Gonzalez went to the bench in the decisive eighth, sending up three consecutive pinch-hitters in Ramirez, Ross Gload and Carroll -- in that order. Ramirez fouled off a pitch during his at bat, causing it to break. As he and Carroll use the same bat model, he called into the dugout for a replacement, yelling "B.C., throw me one of yours."

                  After Ramirez singled to right and Gload drove in the first run of the breakout inning with a fielder's choice, Carroll hit a Schoeneweis pitch into the left field seats to give the Marlins, who had trailed 7-0 in the sixth, an 8-7 lead. The Marlins went on to win 14-7.

                  Alas, Carroll's bat handle broke on the home run. Barring an unforseen call from the Hall of Fame, Carroll said he'll likely give the bat to a relative.

                  Said Carroll: "It died a hero, I guess."

                  

Hanley Ramirez Returns to Lineup

                    Hanley Ramirez is in Friday's starting lineup for the Marlins. Ramirez came off the bench on Thursday to deliver a pinch-hit single in the club's 10-run eighth inning and remained in the game to play shortstop. Ramirez, who hasn't started since Saturday due to a tight hip flexor, said following Thursday's dramatic comeback victory over the Diamondbacks that he is at about 75 percent strength..

                    Marlins: 1. Chris Coghlan, lf; 2. Emilio Bonifacio, 3b; 3. Hanley Ramirez, ss; 4. Ross Gload, 1b; 5. Dan Uggla, 2b; 6. Jeremy Hermida, rf; 7. Cody Ross, cf; 8. John Baker, c; 9. Ricky Nolasco, rhp.

                    

Desert Storm: Marlins Rally for Incredible Comeback, Stun Diamondbacks 14-7

BY CLARK SPENCER

cspencer@miamiherald.com

           

            PHOENIX – They were down 7-0 and looking very much dead.

            Then the Marlins rose like the Phoenix, matching the largest comeback in franchise history with a football-like14-7 victory on Thursday over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. It equaled the 2003 Marlins’ similarly stunning comeback victory over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, when they rallied for a 10-9 win after trailing 9-2.

            A stunned crowd of 21,558 watched the Diamondbacks disintegrate in a collapse of enormous proportions.

            The Diamondbacks owned a seemingly comfortable lead, 7-0, entering the sixth.

            Then it all crumbled in an avalanche of runs.

The Marlins erupted for a franchise-record 10 runs in the eighth inning to cap off their incredible comeback.

Even Hanley Ramirez, who missed the four previous games with a tight hip flexor, got into the act, coming off the bench to deliver a pinch-hit single in the record-breaking eighth inning. He also walked in what was a painfully long inning for the Diamondbacks..

But it all started in the sixth when Jorge Cantu and Jeremy Hermida each hit home runs off Arizona starter Yusmeiro Petit, with Hermida’s solo shot sending Petit to the showers.

The Marlins added another run in the seventh to make it 7-4.

            But the inning that will be long remembered was the eighth.

            The Marlins sent 14 batters to the plate in the inning.

            After pinch-hitter Ross Gload made it 7-5 with his RBI fielder’s choice, another pinch-hitter – Brett Carroll – slammed a 3-run home run to put the Marlins on top. Carroll hit the home run off Arizona left-hander Scott Schoeneweis. Arizona’s rookie manager, A.J. Hinch, did not have a right-hander warming up in the bullpen at the time.

            The onslaught didn’t end there, though, as the Diamondbacks came unglued.

            With the crowd booing their every mistake, Arizona committed two errors and one passed ball in the disastrous eighth.

             The 10 runs scored by the Marlins broke the old franchise mark of eight.

            All but forgotten in the shocking comeback was a poor start by the Marlins’ Andrew Miller and an injury to reliever Burke Badenhop, who was drilled in the knee by a line drive and limped off the field.

            X-rays were negative, and Badenhop is listed as day to day.

            Miller was ineffective, allowing six runs (only two of which were earned as the result of an error by Emilio Bonifacio) and failed to make it through the third inning.

            

-30-

Hanley Ramirez On Idle -- Day 5

                    PHOENIX -- Hanley Ramirez is back on the bench as the Marlins open a four-game series against the D-Backs. However, manager Fredi Gonzalez sounded a bit more optimistic that Ramirez would show up in the lineup soon, if not Friday. Gonzalez said Ramirez would be a bit more involved in the pre-game ritual tonight -- batting, fielding, running -- and might be available to pinch-hit.

                    At any rate, this marks the fifth straight game that Ramirez has not started.

                    In the meantime......

                    -- Kiko Calero was activated off the disabled list. But Calero, who made 36 relief appearances before a sore shoulder landed him on the DL on June 17, said that, from now on, he'll be more honest when asked if he's ready to pitch. Calero said he always said 'yes' in the past. Now, if he's tired, he'll say so. And Gonzalez said he would be more careful in his use of Calero.

                  

All-Star Game for Hanley Ramirez? Maybe. Maybe Not.

          SAN FRANCISCO -- The All-Star Game is suddenly up in the air for ailing Marlins shorstop Hanley Ramirez, who said he still wants to play in the Midsummer Classic while also emphasizing that his main loyalty lies with the team.

           "It's not more important than playing the regular season," Ramirez said of the All-Star Game. "I don't worry that much about the All-Star Game. It's a lot of fun, but we're two games out (of first place). That's what it's about right now. I just worry about that."

            Ramirez, who was chosen by fans to be the National League's starting shortstop in Tuesday's All-Star Game in St. Louis, was not in the lineup on Wednesday for a fourth straight game due to a right hip flexor injury. He took batting practice on Wednesday for the first time in days, but said he still felt stiff and was not sure when he would be ready to play.

             He said that if the injury hasn't improved by the weekend when the Marlins are in Arizona for a four-game series against the Diamondbacks, "then I won't play in it (the All-Star Game). I just want to play (with the Marlins) first before I go to the All-Star Game, at least one game or two games."

             Ramirez, who has not played since Saturday, said he sustained the injury while fielding a ground ball on Friday against the Pirates. He said that after playing Saturday, he woke up Sunday feeling "really stiff."

            He said the injury impacts every aspect of play: hitting, running and fielding.

          While Ramirez said he is hopeful he'll be able to play in Arizona on Thursday when the Marlins open a four-game series against the Diamondback, he said he'll do so only if he's feeling 25- to 35-percent better than he is now. At the moment, Ramirez said he is at about half strength.

          The Marlins have missed Ramirez's bat in the lineup. They lost 5-4 to the Giants on Monday and 3-0 on Tuesday.

          "It's not good when you set in the bench and you get beat by one or two runs," he said.

          -- With Ramirez hobbling and utilty player Alfredo Amezaga still out with a knee injury, the Marlins optioned outfielder Alejandro De Aza before Wednesday's game against the Giants and called up infielder Andy Gonzalez from Triple A New Orleans.

          Gonzalez, who was hitting .260 with four home runs with the Zephyrs, was on the Marlins' Opening Day roster but did not play before being sent down.

           To make room for Gonzalez on the 40-man roster, the Marlins transferred Amezaga to the 60-day disabled list.

          

             

Still No Hanley

               SAN FRANCISCO -- The lineup card is up inside the Marlins clubhouse and, for the third straight day, Hanley Ramirez's name isn't on it. Ramirez remains sidelined with a right hip flexor injury.

                "It hurts," Ramirez said before heading off for whirlpool treatment

                Ramirez said he might try to take batting practice before tonight's game at AT&T, but there is still no definitive word on his availability, even as a pinch-hitter. On Monday, manager Fredi Gonzalez told the media he thought Ramirez would be able to pinch-hit, but didn't send him out to hit in the ninth inning of an eventual 5-4 loss to the Giants.

                Gonzalez said afterward that Ramirez had been unable to take batting practice Monday and was too sore to hit in a game situation. That could change tonight when the Marlins try to even the series with the Giants.

                "It's a little better," Gonzalez said of the injury, "but not enough to put him in the lineup."

                Emilio Bonifacio will be making his sixth start at shortstop.

                Here are the lineups:

                Marlins: 1. Emilio Bonifacio, ss; 2. Wes Helms, 3b; 3. Dan Uggla, 2b; 4. Jorge Cantu, 1b; 5. Cody Ross, cf; 6. Ronny Paulino, c; 7. Jeremy Hermida, lf; 8. Brett Carroll, rf; 9. Josh Johnson, rhp.

                Giants: 1. Aaron Rowand, cf; 2. Randy Winn, lf; 3. Pablo Sandoval, 3b; 4. Bengie Molina, c; 5. Nate Schierholtz, rf; 6. Edgar Renteria, ss; 7. Travis Ishikawa, 1b; 8. Juan Uribe, 2b; 9. Barry Zito, lhp.

                GOING DEEP WITH VOLSTAD

                Chris Volstad heads to the hill on Wednesday hoping he can keep the Giants in the park. Volstad has given up 17 dingers this season in 98 1/3 innings compared to three jacks in 84 innings last season.

                What makes the home run surge a bit more perplexing is that Volstad is still getting ground ball outs. He ranks 11th among NL starters in ground ball/fly ball ratio after finishing 9th last season.

                Volstad said he is getting burned more often on pitches he's left up in the zone. But Volstad also said last year's low home run figure was as much an aberration as this season's high total. Volstad gave up 12 homers in 152 innings at Single A Greensboro in 2006 and 12 total between Single A Jupiter and Double A Carolina (over 168 2/3 combined innings) in '07.

               Still, Volstad admitted the home run ball "has been my problem all year."

               -- The Marlins have signed veteran reliever Scott Williamson to a minor-league contract. Williamson, who has not pitched in the majors since 2007, is working out in Jupiter and will likely be sent to Triple A New Orleans when his arm is ready.

Hanley & JJ NL All-Stars

Hanley Ramirez and Josh Johnson were named to the National League All-Star team this afternoon.

Hanley will start at shortstop for the NL. It is Hanley's second All-Star selection after making the NL team for last year's game at Yankee Stadium.

This is Johnson's first All-Star selection.