• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Marlins shoot for series win in Arlington

Jul 3, 2011 - 2:43 PM (Sports Network) - In the National League East only one team has a negative run differential heading into action on Sunday and that team, the Florida Marlins, actually tries for its fourth win in the last five outings as it closes out a three-game interleague set against the Texas Rangers in Arlington.

Florida, which has scored 48 fewer runs than the competition and has already changed managers this season, won a total of five games in the month of June but is trying to kick start July with two wins in three tries tonight.

On Saturday the Marlins blew up with five runs in the top of the first inning and eventually put up a 9-5 win on the road against the top team in the American League West.

Hanley Ramirez hit a grand slam and a solo homer as part of the 13-hit barrage that carried Florida to the much needed victory. Ramirez had three hits altogether, while Logan Morrison and Emilio Bonifacio both knocked in a pair of runs for a Florida squad that is 21-22 on the road thus far in 2011.

Florida starter Brad Hand made it through just 3 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on four hits and three walks, opening the door for Steve Cishek to claim his first major league win even as he permitted another three runs in just 2 2/3 innings.

"It feels good. Actually, I didn't even realize it until the players were coming in and Gaby [Sanchez] gave me the ball," said Cishek about the win.

Josh Hamilton delivered a pair of homers and Ian Kinsler also went deep for the Rangers, who couldn't overcome an awful start by pitcher Derek Holland who was chased after just two-thirds of an inning, the shortest start of his career. He was lifted after throwing just 46 pitches during the top of first inning which lasted 28 minutes.

"Today was just not his day," Rangers manager Ron Washington said of Holland. "As a ball player, some days you go through that. It's just bad for the team that we had to go to the bullpen so early."

Despite the setback, the second in the last three games for the Rangers, they still maintain a one-game lead over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for first place in their division.

A seasoned Javier Vazquez has been penciled in to make the start for the Marlins tonight in the series finale. The right-hander, who is 2-2 in his 14- year career versus Texas, lost his eighth game of the season on Tuesday as the Florida offense stumbled in a 1-0 defeat versus Oakland on the road.

In that latest outing, Vazquez worked his way through seven innings, allowing just one unearned run on three hits, while striking out five. Despite the loss, Vazquez actually lowered his ERA to below six for the first time this season.

As for the Rangers, they have C.J. Wilson preparing to take the mound at home tonight as he guns for his ninth win of 2011. The lefty, who has yet to record a decision against Florida in his seven-year career, last pitched on Tuesday when he permitted just two runs on seven hits and a pair of walks through seven innings against the Houston Astros. Wilson, who struck out three and was charged with a wild pitch, captured the win, his third in the month of June.

Wilson has the luxury of taking the mound tonight for one of the highest- scoring teams in the major leagues as Texas stands third behind only Boston and the Yankees with 400 runs through 84 games. Also working in Wilson's favor is the fact that Florida is near the bottom in that department with just 315 runs scored in its 83 games thus far.