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Dodgers-Marlins Preview

Apr 11, 2010 - 4:37 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Los Angeles (2-2) at Florida (2-2), 1:10 p.m. EDT

After a tough loss in their last game, the Los Angeles Dodgers are giving some early rest to some of their best players in their next contest.

Manny Ramirez and Russell Martin will get the day off and Andre Ethier won't start Sunday when the Dodgers close a three-game series against the Florida Marlins.

Los Angeles (2-3) failed to win a third straight Saturday, losing 7-6 after the Marlins scored three times in the ninth. Jorge Cantu hit a sacrifice fly off George Sherrill to cap the rally.

Sherrill came in to close instead of Jonathan Broxton, who was unavailable after pitching in back-to-back games.

"You need 27 outs," manager Joe Torre said. "We couldn't get them."

Ramirez was 1 for 4, driving in a run during a three-run third and recording his 2,500th career hit. He's batting .316 with four RBIs, but Torre said he and Martin, who is hitting .364, will both get the day off Sunday. Ethier, held out of the starting lineup Saturday because of a sore ankle, hit a two-run, pinch-hit single in the eighth to put the Dodgers ahead, but will not start Sunday.

The absence of some of Los Angeles' top hitters may give the Marlins (3-2) a chance to win their second straight series after they took two of three against the Mets. Pinch-hitter Ronny Paulino had a two-run double to tie the game in the ninth as Florida overcome another shaky performance from its pitching staff which allowed six or more runs for the fourth time this season.

The bullpen has a 5.82 ERA with two blown saves in four chances.

The Dodgers will hand the ball to Charlie Haeger, who was named to an opening-day roster for the first time in his career.

The knuckleballer, who also has played for the White Sox and San Diego, is 2-3 with a 5.26 ERA in 25 appearances over four seasons, including four starts. He pitched in six games with the Dodgers last season - three as a starter - going 1-1 with a 3.32 ERA.

"His versatility is a plus," Torre said of Haeger, who hasn't faced the Marlins. "We'll give him a shot."

Because Martin will be unavailable to start Sunday, Los Angeles recalled A.J. Ellis from Triple-A Albuquerque to catch for Haeger. Backup Brad Ausmus was placed on the 15-day disabled list for the first time in his career with a pinched nerve in his back.

The Marlins will counter with Anibal Sanchez, who went 1-3 with a 6.38 ERA in six spring starts, but was satisfied that he finished healthy after being limited to 16 starts in 2009 because of shoulder problems.

Sanchez went 4-8 with a 3.87 ERA last season.

"This is awesome," Sanchez told the Marlins' official Web site. "From my first start of spring training, I said this is the first time I've felt like I did a long time ago. When I go to bed at night, I say, 'Thank you God for that.' Now I'm forgetting about everything before. I'm forgetting about '06, '07, '08 and '09. I'm starting over. It's a new season. New everything."

The right-hander is 0-1 with a 1.50 ERA in two starts against the Dodgers, but hasn't faced them since 2006.