Marlins Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Matt Lindstrom isn’t the only Marlins closer who has trouble pitching a clean ninth inning. Dan Meyer had trouble Monday.

As a result, Leo Nunez came in and notched his third save and first since filling in for the injured Lindstrom. Nunez did it by facing one batter. He got Josh Willingham to fly out to end the game, sealing a 4-2 win.

Nunez was in the game because Meyer gave up two hits. Meyer got the first two outs of the ninth but left with runners at first and third.

Meyer, who pitched a clean inning against Baltimore on Wednesday for his first career save, would have notched his second straight if he’d pitched a clean inning.

But manager Fredi Gonzalez suggested the use of the right-handed Nunez and left-handed Meyer was by design.

“We…

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Marlins Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Hanley Ramirez is swinging a hot bat: Three home runs, including two grand slams in a three-game span, and 12-for-24 (.500) with 15 RBIs in his last six games.

Ramirez has four home runs in his last five games—after going homerless in his previous 26.

More important for Ramirez, he is batting .437 (28-for-64) with runners in scoring position, which leads the majors.

Ramirez offered credit to Marlins special assistant Tony Perez, the Hall of Fame slugger from Cincinnati’s Big Red Machine teams.

“I’ve been working with Tony Perez,” said Ramirez. “That’s been helping me a lot.”

Perez’s basic message, Ramirez said, said was to “Stay through the ball with runners in scoring position and don’t try to do too much.”

Rays 7, Marlins 3:…

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Marlins Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Matt Lindstrom, whose 6.52 ERA is highest among closers with at least 14 saves, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a sprained right elbow.

He won’t pick up a baseball for four weeks before he being re-evaluated. He might not return until the first week in August.

“Best case scenario, six weeks,” manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Lindstrom’s fastball hit 98 mph Tuesday, but he said he felt discomfort on his breaking pitches, particularly his slider. He left the game after allowing two runs on four consecutive two-out hits in the ninth inning, which started with a 6-3 Marlins lead. Florida beat Baltimore 7-6 in 12 innings.

The Marlins are leaning toward using Leo Nunez in the closer’s role, but Brian Sanches and Dan Meyer also are options.

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