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Marlins-Nationals Preview

Sep 4, 2009 - 4:51 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Florida (69-64) at Washington (46-88), 7:05 p.m. EDT

A big hit from Hanley Ramirez may have helped ease some of the tension in the Florida Marlins' clubhouse.

The Washington Nationals don't seem to be bickering, but it would certainly be understandable if they were.

With Ramirez's availability still in question, the Marlins on Friday night look to shut down a Nationals team going through a terrible stretch at the plate.

Florida (70-64) salvaged a split of a four-game home series with Atlanta, winning the finale 8-3 on Thursday night. Ramirez hit a tying, pinch-hit single and scored the go-ahead run in the sixth inning of his first game back since teammate Dan Uggla publicly questioned his effort.

The previous day, Ramirez said he "got some people" upset for leaving Tuesday night's 4-3 loss to the Braves with a tight left hamstring. Uggla overheard him and argued with the National League's batting leader in the clubhouse.

Uggla felt the All-Star shortstop showed a lack of desire, saying Ramirez may not care about the Marlins' playoff push because he has already secured a $70 million, six-year contract.

That incident prompted manager Fredi Gonzalez to conduct a closed-door meeting.

Ramirez's physical status remains uncertain, but Florida desperately needs him in the lineup. The Marlins are tied with Atlanta for third place in the wild-card race, four games behind Colorado.

Ramirez is batting .388 with two homers, five doubles and 14 RBIs in 12 games this season against Washington (46-88), which enters this three-game set in perhaps its worst slump of the season.

The Nationals have lost six straight and have scored three runs in their last 38 innings, including a 7-0 defeat to San Diego on Wednesday. Washington, coming off a 2-7 road trip, is one loss away from matching its longest skid of the season.

"It's not acceptable to ... not be able to scratch out a win or two," Nationals manager Jim Riggleman told the team's official Web site. "It's just unacceptable, and we've got to do better."

Washington will next face Florida starter Sean West (6-5, 4.22 ERA), who struggled in his only start against the Nationals. He allowed five runs and eight hits in 4 1-3 innings of a 7-5 Marlins loss June 30.

West, though, is 3-1 with a 2.77 ERA in five starts since being recalled from Double-A Jacksonville on Aug. 8. The left-hander gave up three runs - one earned - and tied a career high with seven strikeouts in six innings to earn a win in Florida's 6-4 victory over San Diego on Sunday.

Washington will counter with Garrett Mock (3-6, 5.01), who is 3-2 with a 3.14 ERA in his last five starts, striking out 32 in 28 2-3 innings during that stretch. The right-hander surrendered two runs and struck out five in six innings of Washington's 3-1 loss to St. Louis on Sunday.

This will be Mock's first start against the Nationals. He's faced Washington twice in relief, yielding one hit in three scoreless innings.

Florida has lost three straight against Washington after winning the teams' first nine matchups in the season series.