Postgame: Stanton, Professional Lead Marlins to Series Win Over Rays

[Valid]

The bullpen didn't suck.

Big series win.

[Namaste]

Beating good teams is easy.

It's the average teams that pose a problem.

Great work by Volstad and Cantu also.

ST. PETERSBURG - The Marlins turned a tied rubber match into an Interleague series win with a big sixth inning and some timely hitting from its brightest young star.

Mike Stanton had two RBIs, Jorge Cantu and Wes Helms homered in a four-run sixth inning and Florida topped Tampa Bay, 6-1, before 25,442 in Tropicana Field on Sunday afternoon.

41 wins41 wins
The Marlins (31-32) entered the series with a 2-10 record against the Rays over the past two seasons, but they got strong enough starts from Anibal Sanchez on Friday and Chris Volstad on Sunday, then let their bats do the rest of the work. Volstad gave up one run on four hits and four walks in six innings of work, keeping the game tied at 1 after both teams scored their first runs in the fourth inning.

Right-hander Jeff Niemann, the Rays' most consistent starter, entered the game with quality starts in 11 of his 13 appearances, and he appeared ready to make it 12 of 14. But Florida got to him in the sixth. Cantu, who extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a single to center field in the fourth, knocked a solo home run to left field to lead off the inning. Dan Uggla followed up the go-ahead run with a double to left-center and scored on Stanton's single to center field.

Wes Helms then stepped to the plate and nailed a long ball over the left-field fence - his second homer in as many days - to make the score 5-1.

The Marlins added another insurance run in the seventh, as Uggla's sacrifice fly to center scored Hanley Ramirez, who easily beat out the throw after being on the wrong end of a play at the plate the day before.

Cody Ross hit into a fielder's choice and stole second base in the fourth, eventually crossing home plate on Stanton's single to center - his first RBI of the day and third of the series. But the Rays responded in the bottom half of the frame, as Carl Crawford scored on Ben Zobrist's sacrifice fly to Uggla, who had to backpedal into shallow center field and couldn't turn around to make the throw in time.

The two Sunshine State teams won't be apart for too long, as the Marlins will look to end the Rays' winning ways against them in a three-game home series starting Friday.

[Party]

Two more and we win the coveted Citrus Cup.

[Nick]

[Swifty]

Good thing we may get it back, didn't we physically lose the thing?

[Fritz]

Good win. Stanton pwned. I eated ice cream out of a Rays helmet.

[Ramp]

BJ Upton's?

[Fritz]

Maybe. I'm glad I dissed Wes and he came through this weekend. I would still prefer Ed.

[Beef]

Did you go to Fergs?

[Miamarlin21]

Fritz, can you just diss Maybin and Miller badly please?

Oh and the entire bullpen sans Leo