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Red-hot Ramirez, Marlins look to keep rolling vs. Dodgers

Jul 11, 2008 - 1:52 PM Florida (48-44) at Los Angeles (45-47), 10:40 pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- All-Star Hanley Ramirez will attempt to lead the Florida Marlins to their fifth win in six contests when they face the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.

Ramirez collected five hits and delivered the game-winning home run in the 11th inning as the Marlins defeated the Dodgers, 5-4, on Thursday in the series opener of this four-game series.

The 24-year-old Ramirez hit a first-pitch fastball over the right-center field wall off reliever Brian Falkenborg (1-2) with two outs. He went 5-for-6 with three singles, a double and the decisive home run.

The National League starter at shortstop for the Midsummer Classic, Ramirez leads Florida with a .312 batting average and 23 home runs this season. Uggla, who went 0-for-3 on Thursday in his first game back after an 11-game absence, also has 23 blasts.

Los Angeles hopes lefthander Eric Stults (2-1, 2.22 ERA) can shutdown the talented Marlins' offense and erase the sting of Thursday's extra-inning loss.

Stults, who will be making his fifth start of the season and 12th career, gave up two runs - one earned - and seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts over four innings during Sunday's 5-3 triumph over the San Francisco Giants.

Florida will counter with Chris Volstad (0-0, 0.00), who is making his first career start. In his only other major league appearance, the 21-year-old righthander tossed two scoreless frames of relief in Sunday's 10-5 win over the Colorado Rockies.