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Orioles-Marlins Preview

Jun 25, 2009 - 5:30 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Baltimore (32-38) at Florida (36-36), 7:10 p.m. EDT

The Florida Marlins have found a quick way to get above .500 for the first time in two months - continuing their dominance at home over the Baltimore Orioles.

In Thursday night's finale of a three-game series, the Marlins will try to add to that new winning record with their fifth straight victory and third sweep of the Orioles in four all-time meetings in Miami.

The Marlins (37-36) moved over the .500 mark for the first time since April 12 with Wednesday night's 5-2 victory and improved to 8-3 on their 15-game interleague stretch.

After blowing a three-run ninth-inning lead in Tuesday night's extra-inning win, the Marlins allowed the Orioles (32-39) to cut a three-run lead to one in the sixth inning Wednesday. Emilio Bonifacio's throwing error allowed Baltimore to score two unearned runs, but he atoned for that gaffe in the seventh.

The Florida infielder, who scored the winning run Tuesday, reached on an infield single, stole second and moved to third on Matt Wieters' throwing error during his steal attempt. With Orioles center fielder Felix Pie slow in getting to the ball, Bonifacio sprinted home and beat the relay to the plate.

"Most of the time, they assume you're going to be fine with taking one base, so they make a weak throw in," he told the Marlins' official Web site. "Thankfully, I was able to anticipate that and score."

Dan Meyer earned his first career save after closer Matt Lindstrom went on the 15-day disabled list (sprained right elbow) earlier in the day.

Florida never trailed after Hanley Ramirez's run-scoring single in the first - his eighth RBI in three games - and improved to 10-1 all-time at home against Baltimore. The Marlins, who have won six straight over the Orioles, have swept them at Miami in both 1997 and 2001.

To earn a third, they could use a better effort from rookie left-hander Sean West (2-2, 3.97 ERA), who didn't make it out of the fifth inning after allowing five runs and 10 hits in Friday night's 5-1 loss to the visiting New York Yankees.

West, who had previously won consecutive starts, will try to help his team move two games above .500 for the first time since May 10 and win five straight for the first time since a season-high seven consecutive victories from April 12-19 during their franchise-record 11-1 start.

The Orioles (32-39) counter with left-hander Rich Hill (3-1, 5.18), who is trying to win consecutive starts for the first time since Sept. 22-29, 2007. After giving up two runs in the first inning Friday night in Philadelphia, Hill settled down in a 7-2 victory and pitched into the seventh for the second time this season.

"When he gets in trouble, he tends to overthrow. He doesn't stay with the game plan," manager Dave Trembley told the Orioles' official Web site. "This time, he stayed on top, repeated his delivery and made big pitches."

Hill hasn't faced Florida since allowing two runs in an inning of relief for the Chicago Cubs in 2005.

Baltimore, which had won five straight heading into the series, dropped to 7-4 on its 15-game stretch versus NL opponents.