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Marlins hang on to defeat Rays

May 22, 2011 - 3:43 AM Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Omar Infante slugged a two-run homer and Logan Morrison added a two-run double as Florida nipped Tampa Bay, 5-3, in the middle test of a three-game interleague set.

Hanley Ramirez hit a solo shot for the Marlins, who have won the first two games in the series.

Javier Vazquez (3-4) worked seven scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and two walks while fanning seven. Leo Nunez hurled a scoreless ninth for his 17th save.

"Everybody's right here, man, everybody feeds off each other," Ramirez said of his club's winning chemistry. "When we start winning like this, it makes everybody want to stick together."

Johnny Damon hit a two-run single for the Rays, who stumbled to their sixth loss in eight outings. David Price (5-4) suffered the loss after yielding six hits and five runs over 6 2/3 frames.

Down by five, the Rays put together a brief surge in the eighth inning against three Florida pitchers. Three straight walks with one out loaded the bases, then Kelly Shoppach worked a pinch-hit base on balls to force in Tampa's first run of the contest.

Damon followed with a pinch-single to right which brought in two more and shave the Marlins' edge to 5-3. John Jaso killed the rally by striking out swinging.

Nunez, though, shut the door in the ninth. Though Elliot Johnson singled and stole second, Reid Brignac fanned looking, Justin Ruggiano grounded out and Ben Zobrist struck out.

"I really like the fact that we took the chances we had to come back and try to win this game," said Rays manager Joe Maddon. "There's a lot of positives in this game, but offensively we'd like to be more consistent."

Florida dented Price early, picking up two runs in the first as Emilio Bonifacio walked, Ramirez bunted for a hit and Morrison followed with a double to score both.

Ramirez made it 3-0 when he started the home sixth with his fourth home run of the season, then Wes Helms singled with one out in the seventh and came home on Infante's two-run shot.

Game Notes

Florida has won six of the last eight meetings with Tampa Bay...This was the longest outing for Vazquez since he worked seven innings in a win at Cleveland on July 26, 2010...Prior to the game, the Marlins placed ace Josh Johnson on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with right shoulder inflammation and selected the contract of right-hander Jay Buente from Triple-A New Orleans.