The Official Site of Hanley Ramirez

Fri, Jun 26th 2009, 09:57

Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins slam Baltimore Orioles

Hanley Ramirez took a well-deserved curtain call Thursday night.

Cody Ross and Dan Uggla each drilled two-run home runs in Florida’s 11-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles, which moved the Marlins to within one game of the first-place Phillies in the National League East.

But it was Ramirez who delivered the knockout punch. With two outs in the eighth inning, he drilled a 1-2 pitch over the left-field scoreboard for his third grand slam of the year and his second slam in three games.

“It feels good when you see those fans cheering for you and the whole team. It’s a different feeling,” Ramirez said after he acknowledged a long ovation from 12,822.

Ramirez, who also hit a grand slam Tuesday, finished the night with five RBI, giving him 13 RBI over his past four games – a big reason the Marlins have won five in a row to catapult back into the division race.

“I’m not trying to be too greedy,” Ramirez said with a smile. “(Clean-up hitter Jorge) Cantu was saying I got to leave him some RBI, but I’m just trying to do my job.”

Ramirez and Ross each have three grand slams this year, tying the franchise record for slams in a season, also held by Jeff Conine (2004) and Bobby Bonilla (1997).

The Marlins open a three-game series tonight at Tampa Bay with a chance to move into at least a tie for first place. On the mound: Marlins ace Josh Johnson.

“I’d be lying to you if I said I don’t watch the division,” Ross said. “It’s early, but I do. I care what other teams are doing. The main thing is we have to take care of business and go out and do our job.”

With their sweep of the Orioles, the Marlins improved their interleague record to 10-5. Last year, the Marlins went 5-10 against American League teams and missed the playoffs by five games.

Continue reading….