Miami Marlins

Marlins notebook

Finally, no lineup makeover for Miami Marlins

 
 

Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen watches from the dugout during the seventh inning of the Marlins' interleague baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in Boston on Wednesday, June 20, 2012.
Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen watches from the dugout during the seventh inning of the Marlins' interleague baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in Boston on Wednesday, June 20, 2012.
Elise Amendola / AP

mnavarro@MiamiHerald.com

As the Marlins have struggled through another June swoon, Ozzie Guillen has kept himself busy by changing his lineup on a daily basis.

Only once during the team’s 5-16 start to the month has the Marlins manager put the same lineup on the field on back-to-back days. He finally broke the habit Monday.

After the team’s most lopsided win of the season Sunday against the Blue Jays, Guillen put the same guys out on the field and in the same batting order against the Cardinals on Monday. That’s something he hadn’t done since June 1 at Philadelphia, when he had the same lineup on the field for five games in a row.

“You’re not going to change lineups — unless there’s a lefty pitching — after you score nine runs,” Guillen said. “I think if we continue to play like this, this is the lineup we’re going to keep, to be honest.”

Guillen said Greg Dobbs, who started again at first base, “is swinging the bat better.” Does that mean Gaby Sanchez could see himself in a platoon situation moving forward? Guillen didn’t elaborate. But with Sanchez hitting .195 with two homers and 16 RBI, that could be a possibility.

Outfielder Justin Ruggiano said Monday he still feels soreness in his left shoulder from the diving catch he made Saturday to save two runs off the bat off Brett Lawrie. The catch was considered the Best of the Best this weekend by ESPN.

“I robbed one last year in Baltimore from J.J. Hardy. But this one, now that I’ve had time to think about it, is probably the best [catch I’ve made as a pro] because of the degree of difficulty,” he said.

•  Emilio Bonifacio said he’s having a specially designed protective wrap made to fit his surgically repaired left thumb when he runs the bases upon his return after the All-Star break. Bonifacio said it will be similar to one worn by Cardinals shortstop Rafael Furcal. In fact, Bonifacio said he got a photo from Furcal of the wrap to show the Marlins what he wanted his to look like. Bonifacio will see a doctor Tuesday before receiving the green light to start swinging off the tee.

• Reliever Ryan Webb, who gave up a career-high six earned runs over two innings of relief in last Friday’s 12-4 loss to Toronto, said he’s working with pitching coach Randy St. Claire to adjust his delivery.

“I think I might have been having a problem even when I was having success. I’m not really throwing the way that I used to,” Webb said. “It’s a part of my delivery, staying closed with my front body and shoulder.

“It’s something I kind of got away from over the course of two years, trying to make little adjustments.”

Coming up

•  Tuesday: Marlins RHP Carlos Zambrano (4-5, 4.01 ERA) vs. St. Louis Cardinals RHP Kyle Lohse (6-2, 2.85), 7:10 p.m., Marlins Park.

•  Wednesday: Marlins RHP Anibal Sanchez (3-6, 3.94) vs. Cardinals RHP Joe Kelly (1-0, 3.52), 7:10 p.m., Marlins Park.

•  Scouting report: Zambrano is 3-0 with a 3.88 ERA over his past seven starts against the Cardinals and is 12-6 with a 3.40 ERA against them in his career. Lohse beat the Marlins on Opening Day and is 3-2 with a 3.99 ERA all-time against Miami.

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