May 1, 2009 (Sun Sentinel delivered by Newstex ) --
The stage was set for Hanley Ramirez to be the hero Friday in his return from a bruised right hand. Though not in the starting lineup, Ramirez entered as part of a double switch in the seventh.?He walked in his first turn and came up with?two out in the ninth representing the tying run against former teammate Kevin Gregg. Ramirez fell behind 0-2 before ultimately hitting a Gregg breaking ball to medium-deep center, ending the game. He'll be back in the starting lineup Saturday.
In?Ramirez's absence, Alfredo?Amezaga played?an outstanding shortstop. Don't think the Marlins ?will consider moving Ramirez to another position any time soon, but it's something to think?about down the line if they're in a position?to acquire an Amezaga-like defender with a better?bat. Amezaga is great in his current role.?Ask him to?be an every day player and I think teams will expose him offensively.
Couple of positives out?of today's game:
Starter Graham Taylor didn't?look as spooked as he did in his major?league debut against the?Phillies. He gave up two runs on five hits over five innings and depart positioned to win the game.?Manager Fredi Gonzalez?confirmed Taylor would make his next scheduled start Wednesday at home against the Braves.
Emilio Bonifacio and Cameron Maybin hit one-two again and combined to reach five times in 10 plate appearances and scored two runs. With his second-inning single off Rich Harden, Bonifacio collected his first RBI since April 11.
Jorge Cantu added two more RBI in going 1 for 4.?He?now has a team-high 24, as many as Hanley Ramirez and Jeremy Hermida combined.
Ronnie?Paulino likely will get the start against left-hander Ted Lilly tomorrow, but what happens?Sunday when both Baker and Ramirez are in the lineup? Should?the? Marlins keep Bonifacio and?Maybin atop the order and drop?down Baker? Or how about leading off Maybin?and hitting Bonifacio eighth? Fredi said he almost did that?earlier this week.?
Newstex ID: FL-2069-34598636
