April 10, 200620 yr Mitre gets call in Marlins' home debut San Diego (1-4) at Florida (1-4), 4:05 p.m. ET By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com In all, 13 players on the roster will suit up as Marlins for the first time at home. Seven have never played at Dolphins Stadium. After a two-city road trip to start the year, the Marlins take on the Padres in the home opener at 4:05 p.m. The Marlins dropped four of five away, but they return home pleased with the effort, if not the record. "We're in ballgames, and we're playing everybody tough," rookie right fielder Jeremy Hermida said. "You've got to take positives from that. We're out there playing these teams tough. We have to take the positives, go home and win some ballgames." Playing at Dolphins Stadium will be a new experience for several Marlins. Second baseman Dan Uggla is one of the new players who has never stepped on his new home field. "It will be nice," said Uggla of making his home debut. "It's always fun to be on the road, [but] I have a little baby to go home to. It was fun, being my first road trip. I had never been to New York before. It was fun taking the subway and taking cabs and seeing what this lifestyle is like." Uggla became a father on March 30, and he left on the road trip one day after his son, Jackson, was born. Being on the road was an eye-opener for Uggla, who noted how expensive food was in New York. "Our bill for breakfast, for four, was $120," he said. Tuesday also represents the first home game for Joe Girardi as the Marlins' manager. In his playing days as catcher, Girardi found Dolphins Stadium a decent place. "I thought it was a pretty good place to play," Girardi said. "It's hot. Obviously, it didn't have the amenities of a lot of ballparks. But the surface was good. I used to judge a park by my little area." The Marlins will start Sergio Mitre, the former Cub who has never pitched in Dolphins Stadium. San Diego will go with veteran right-hander Woody Williams. Parking gates open at 1 p.m., with the stadium gates opening at 2 p.m. The pregame activities get going at 3:30 p.m. Singing the national anthem will be Nadia Turner, a 2005 "American Idol" finalist. Tossing out the ceremonial first pitch will be James Freed, the longest-running Marlins season-ticket holder (1992). The colors will be presented by the United States Army Color Guard, and there will be a pregame performance by The Florida National Guard 13th Army Band. Four F-18 Fighter Jets from the Key West Naval Air Station will conduct a flyover after the national anthem. About 23,000 tickets have been sold, and with a walkup, 30,000 may be on hand. Tickets are available at www.floridamarlins.com. Pitching matchup FLA: RHP Sergio Mitre (0-0, 0.00) Starting off the season on a high, Mitre tossed six scoreless innings in a victory at Houston last Tuesday. The right-hander scattered three hits and struck out five in a strong showing. He showed some power at the plate, too, delivering an RBI double. Mitre is 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA against the Padres. SD: RHP Woody Williams (0-0, 0.50) Bounced from the rotation to start the season, Williams, after pitching an inning of scoreless relief against the Giants, moves back into a starting role with Shawn Estes on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left elbow. Williams lost his only start against the Marlins last season, giving up six earned runs in five innings. He's 1-1 with a 5.49 ERA in three starts at Dolphins Stadium. If he's getting ahead of hitters, Williams has the stuff and expertise to win games. Player to watch Mike Piazza, who once enjoyed a brief stay as a Marlin, has posted some impressive power numbers against Florida. In 148 games facing Marlins pitching, Piazza has a .265 average with 22 home runs and 78 RBIs. On the Internet MLB.TV Gameday Audio ? Gameday ? Official game notes On television ? FSN Florida On radio ? 560 WQAM, 1140 WQBA(Espa?ol) Up next ? Wednesday: Padres (Chris Young, 0-0, 6.75 ERA) at Marlins (Brian Moehler, 0-1, 27.00 ERA), 1:05 p.m. ET ? Thursday: Padres (Dewon Brazelton, 0-1, 34.71 ERA) at Marlins (Jason Vargas, 0-1, 9.00 ERA), 1:05 p.m. ET ? Friday: Nationals (Ryan Drese, 0-0, 0.00 ERA) at Marlins (Dontrelle Willis, 0-0, 1.38 ERA), 7:35 p.m. ET Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
April 10, 200620 yr Hopefully it will get to atleast 30,000. Atleast it will be better than 2002 when he had like 21,000 or some really bad number.
April 10, 200620 yr Author Fortunately we're going to play the Padres who have also started slow...going 1-4 to open the season.
April 10, 200620 yr Fortunately we're going to play the Padres who have also started slow...going 1-4 to open the season. Mitre vs Woody Williams... We need to get some runs for sure! It will be hard for Mitre to repeat his performance
April 10, 200620 yr Man I really wish I could go Between my job interview at 1 PM at Boca and Class at 6, there's no way I'd be able to make it. Sounds like a great time though.
April 10, 200620 yr if i could get out of my internship tuesday... which i can id go. problem is ive missed a few days in the last 2 weeks.
April 10, 200620 yr Can't go due to health problems but I will be there in spirit, and watching on the TV.
April 10, 200620 yr I cant wait to be back at the Pro I will be there cheering on the Fish Tuesday and Wednsday.
April 10, 200620 yr I'll be sure to get there early with the jets and everything, too bad just about everyone else will arrive sometime during the first or second inning. Haven't gotten tickets yet, but I doubt that's a problem.
April 10, 200620 yr I'd go if they weren't 3 games under .500 already. Just kidding. I can't make it, but I wish I could.
April 10, 200620 yr I'd go if they weren't 3 games under .500 already. Just kidding. I can't make it, but I wish I could. :lol
April 11, 200620 yr I went and got tix today. Two in the Tank, Row 10 :thumbup Apparently we've got something like 25ish sold
April 11, 200620 yr Apparently we've got something like 25ish sold Awesome. Hopefully there will be 30k at the game tomorrow.
April 11, 200620 yr Umm.. I checked for 3 tickets in the upperdeck and it says no tickets remain? Do you think they might open up more sections tomorrow?
April 11, 200620 yr Umm.. I checked for 3 tickets in the upperdeck and it says no tickets remain? Do you think they might open up more sections tomorrow? Crap. That's where I planned on sitting
April 11, 200620 yr Umm.. I checked for 3 tickets in the upperdeck and it says no tickets remain? Do you think they might open up more sections tomorrow? Crap. That's where I planned on sitting Me too. I am thinking its just a tease. :mischief2 I bet they will open more sections.
April 11, 200620 yr There will be tickets ava. for the walkup crowd tomorrow... Upper deck sections will be open if ness.
April 11, 200620 yr There will be tickets ava. for the walkup crowd tomorrow... Upper deck sections will be open if ness. :thumbup Thats what I thought.
April 11, 200620 yr theres scattered showers in the forcast for tomorrow... hope that doesnt effect the game.
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