While left fielder Josh Willingham is on the disabled list (lower back strain), the team will experiment with its batting order, dropping leadoff hitter Hanley Ramirez to the third spot. Willingham was put on the DL Friday retroactive to Monday, meaning he won't be eligible to return until May 13.
While he's out, Ramirez will drop to third and platoon center fielders Alfredo Amezaga and Cody Ross will probably bat leadoff. Right fielder Jeremy Hermida will move from third to second in the order while second baseman Dan Uggla will drop to sixth.
"We'll try it for 10 games and see if it's permanent or it's not permanent," manager Fredi Gonzalez said Friday. "I think the time has come where we may need to (make it permanent). It's a totally different lineup without (Miguel) Cabrera there."
Ramirez went into Friday batting .297 (49-for-165) with six home runs and 18 RBIs in 39 games in the third spot, all in 2007. Friday was his first game batting third since June 26, 2007.
Willingham has been one of the Marlins' hottest hitters. He was batting .341 with six homers and 16 RBIs after his last game Sunday.
MARLINS 6, PADRES 4: Left-hander Mark Hendrickson is off to the best start of his career. Working quickly against a struggling San Diego lineup, he allowed three runs in seven innings for his fifth win. He got offensive help from second baseman Dan Uggla, who hit two home runs -- a solo shot and a three-run shot. Left fielder Luis Gonzalez also homered and right fielder Jeremy Hermida went 3-for-4.
