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Marlins host Rays in Citrus Series opener

May 20, 2011 - 2:52 PM (Sports Network) - The Citrus Series commences tonight between the Tampa Bay Rays and Florida Marlins with the opener of a three-game series at Sun Life Stadium.

The Marlins lead the all-time series with the Rays by a 40-33 margin, but Tampa Bay has played well since manager Joe Maddon took over, going 18-12 under the skipper. Tampa Bay has also won three of the last four series as the visiting team. The Marlins won four of six meetings with the Rays in 2010.

Florida was swept in a two-game series versus the Chicago Cubs and has lost three of its last four games, including Thursday's 5-1 loss. Chris Volstad lasted five innings on the hill and Chicago posted three runs on four hits against the right-hander. Burke Badenhop gave up two more runs in relief.

"He did good for five innings," said Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez said of Volstad. "Too bad we're looking for more offense."

Mike Stanton's home run in the eighth inning accounted for the scoring for the Marlins, who got two hits apiece from Hanley Ramirez, Logan Morrison and John Buck. Morrison returned from the disabled list on Friday and has reached base in all six games since then. He had a career-high 13-game hit streak stopped when he went 0-for-4 with a walk on Monday.

The Marlins own the highest winning percentage (.543) in interleague play among National League teams with a record of 127-107. They went 7-8 against the American League last season.

Taking the mound for the Fish tonight will be Anibal Sanchez. Sanchez is 3-0 in his last five starts and has hurled consecutive scoreless outings. In a 1-0 win at Washington on Saturday, Sanchez lasted eight innings and scattered three hits with nine strikeouts. He tossed seven shutout innings and fanned 11 batters on May 8 versus the Nationals.

Sanchez, who is 3-1 with a 2.90 earned run average in eight starts, won his only appearance against the Rays. The right-hander is 2-0 in four home starts this season.

Tampa Bay has dropped four of six games since winning three straight and seven of eight contests. It split a two-game series in Toronto and suffered a 3-2 loss on Thursday, as B.J. Upton and Kelly Shoppach both homered in defeat.

Wade Davis was saddled with the loss and permitted three runs and seven hits over 7 2/3 innings. Davis allowed two home runs in falling to 4-4 on the year.

"Quickly played game, well played game, they got one more run," Maddon said. "It's kind of an innocuous game in a lot of ways except for the good pitching."

The Rays are 1-1 on an eight-game road trip and sport a 106-126 record against the National League. Maddon is 50-40 in games against the Senior Circuit and compiled a 7-11 mark in interleague play a season ago.

Andy Sonnanstine will make his third start of the season this evening and is back in the rotation with Jeff Niemann sidelined due to injury. A .316 hitter in interleague play, Sonnanstine lost his first decision of the season in Sunday's 9-3 setback versus Baltimore and gave up four runs on eight hits over five innings.

The righty is 0-1 with a 3.92 ERA in eight games (2 starts) this season and looks to maintain his unbeaten mark against the Marlins. Sonnanstine has faced the Marlins seven times, going 3-0 with a 3.31 ERA with four starts.