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Marlins-Padres Preview

Jul 21, 2009 - 6:49 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Florida (47-47) at San Diego (37-56), 10:05 p.m. EDT

The Florida Marlins' offense has gone silent quite often recently, and that's the biggest reason why they're falling farther behind in the NL East race.

Hanley Ramirez has certainly done his part to help.

The NL's top hitter homered to help lift Florida past the San Diego Padres in the opener of a West Coast trip, and Ramirez will look to keep carrying the Marlins on Tuesday night as they continue their three-game set at Petco Park.

Florida (47-47), like the rest of the East, has fallen victim to Philadelphia's July surge, which has put the World Series champions 6 1/2 games ahead of second-place Atlanta and seven up on the Marlins.

Florida hasn't helped itself much either, largely thanks to an offense that's been shut out three times in its past seven games and averaged 2.4 runs in that stretch.

The Marlins had lost five of six heading into San Diego, and while the offense didn't exactly break out in Monday's opener, it got help from its most reliable source.

Ramirez hit a first-inning homer to get Florida's slumping offense an early lead, though the Marlins had to rally to win 3-2.

"He is a great hitter and he made me pay for (a mistake)," said Padres starter Tim Stauffer.

Ramirez, who leads the NL with a .345 average, is hitting .408 with three homers and 11 RBIs in his last 13 games.

He's 0 for 2 in his career against Chad Gaudin (4-8, 4.84 ERA), who will try to help San Diego (37-56) avoid a 12th loss in its past 14 contests.

Gaudin, who's averaging 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings, fanned eight over five innings Thursday against Colorado, but was charged with four runs - one earned - in a 10-1 loss.

"I threw a lot of quality pitches that just didn't go my way," Gaudin told the Padres' official Web site. "What can you do?"

Gaudin is 2-2 with a 5.56 ERA in seven games - one start - against Florida.

Chris Volstad (6-9, 4.53) will get the ball for the Marlins looking to add to San Diego's offensive woes. The Padres have scored three runs or fewer in 10 of their last 11 games.

Despite the loss in Monday's opener, San Diego can be hopeful a home run and double from Adrian Gonzalez were a sign the first baseman is poised for a turnaround. The All-Star was hitting .118 (4 for 34) without an RBI in the Padres' last 10 games heading into the series.

Volstad, who's 3-3 with a 3.81 ERA on the road, was victimized by home runs in his latest outing. The visiting Phillies scored four runs off Volstad in six innings Thursday - all coming on three homers - and the right-hander was on the hook for Florida's 4-0 loss.

"The home run ball, again," Volstad told the Marlins' official Web site. "I feel like every time I leave one up, it gets hit over the fence. I'd like to have one hit off the wall every once in a while. That's the way the game is."

Volstad has never faced the Padres.