http-~~-//www.youtube.c...h?v=NrO83v6X8lI http-~~-//www.youtube.c...h?v=kRLAyG3gKYg

 

 

 

By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com

 

08/16/09 11:50 PM ET

 

MIAMI -- There is only one Alfredo Amezaga. But Emilio Bonifacio is looking about as close as you can get.

 

During his previous three years in South Florida, Amezaga garnered areputation for being the irreplaceable Marlin -- an incrediblyversatile player who contributed Gold Glove-caliber defense at threeinfield and outfield positions.

 

But after the acquisition of first baseman Nick Johnson turnedBonifacio -- the team's starting third baseman all year -- into areserve, the speedster from the Dominican Republic has come off thebench and even played some outfield, therefore beginning to fill thevoid left by Amezaga's season-ending knee injury.

 

"It kind of gives us the same versatility, from the standpointof having him as one of your bench guys who can play multiplepositions," outfield coach Bo Porter said.

 

Bonifacio came to the Marlins from the Nationals this offseason mostlyas a middle infielder, but he learned third base in Spring Training,and lately, he has been used in the starting lineup as a centerfielder.

 

And even though Land Shark Stadium's outfield is a spacious one, Bonifacio's transition has looked relatively seamless.

 

"The good thing about it is he's athletic, and there's some things you can't teach from an athletic standpoint," Porter said.

 

"He's done a great job. He has really good instincts, and ofcourse his speed helps because he's a guy who could close on the ballreally well. So we're more than pleased with the progress he's beenable to have."

 

But if it doesn't seem like Bonifacio is new to the outfield, it's because he isn't.

 

While playing in the Dominican Winter League the past two years,Bonifacio played pretty much every day in the outfield -- mostly inright -- because with infielders like Erick Aybar, Willy Aybar andAnderson Hernandez, it was pretty much his only way to get consistentat-bats.

 

This year, Bonifacio has started six games in the outfield --three in left field and three in center -- and has played error-free inthat relatively small sample size. Four of his last five starts havecome in center field.

 

"I feel pretty comfortable out there," he said in Spanish before Sunday's doubleheader.

 

Perhaps Bonifacio didn't feel too comfortable when his newreserve role first came to fruition, as he had been the team's starterat the hot corner since Opening Day.

 

But the 24-year-old switch-hitter said he never let it get to him.

 

"I love to play every day, but there's not really anything youcan do about it," said Bonifacio, batting .450 (9-for-20) in his lastfive games. "It's [the front office's] decision, and you have to acceptthat.

 

"I never let it bother me. You just have to be ready to do your jobwhen you are given an opportunity. If you let it bother you, then whenit's time to play, you're not going to be ready. You're going to bethinking about something else."

 

Pitching matchup

FLA: RHP Ricky Nolasco (8-8, 5.44 ERA)

After his worst outingever on Wednesday at Land Shark Stadium, Nolasco gets a chance forredemption in the series opener at Houston. Nolasco surrendered acareer-high 10 runs, topping the nine he yielded to the Mets at SheaStadium on July 8, 2006. The 3 1/3 innings marked his shortest stint ofthe year. Previously, he lasted 3 2/3 at Milwaukee on May 13. Nolascois now 2-1 in his career against the Astros. The right-hander had gonethree straight starts of seven innings, and he didn't throw fewer thansix innings since June 24.

 

HOU: RHP Bud Norris (3-0, 3.00 ERA)

Norris became the first Astros pitcher to win his first three startswith the team when he beat the Marlins on Wednesday in Miami, but itwasn't pretty. He was the beneficiary of an offensive outburst and wondespite giving up 10 hits and five runs -- four earned -- in fiveinnings to improve to 3-0 in three career starts. Norris, 24, was 4-9with a 2.63 ERA in 19 starts at Triple-A Round Rock this year, allowing104 hits, 53 walks and striking out 112 batters in 120 innings.

 

Tidbits

Cody Ross' six hits in Sunday's doubleheader were afranchise record. ... Hanley Ramirez's hitting streak is now at 12games, one shy of his season high. Catcher Ronny Paulino's hittingstreak is at eight. ... With a 7-3 loss in Game 2, the Marlins'franchise-record streak of eight consecutive games with six or moreruns was snapped. ... Chris Coghlan's three-run homer in the secondinning of Game 1 was his first to the opposite field this season. ...Before Chris Volstad hit a two-run single in Game 1, the right-handerhad mustered just one RBI in his previous 67 at-bats.

 

Tickets

Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.

 

On the Internet

MLB.TV

Gameday Audio

• Gameday

• Official game notes

 

On television

• Sun Sports HD

 

On radio

• WAXY 790, WAQI 710 (Español)

 

Up next

• Wednesday: Marlins (Sean West, 4-4, 4.57) at Astros (Yorman Bazardo, 0-0, 5.06), 8:05 p.m. ET

• Thursday: Marlins (Josh Johnson, 12-2, 2.85) at Astros (Wandy Rodriguez, 11-7, 3.05), 8:05 p.m. ET

• Friday: Marlins (TBD) at Braves (TBD), 7:30 p.m. ET

 

 

 

 

(Game Thread created thanks to: espn.com, marlins.com, youtube.com, marlinsbaseball.com)

:gofish

At least the Marlins won't have to worry about Pudge as he has been traded to the Rangers.

 

:marlins

 

 

GO FISH...need to stay strong!!!

Sweep

We haven't won a series in Houston since 2004. That needs to change.

Coghlan lf, gload 1b, ramirez ss, cantu 3b, baker c, uggla 2b, ross cf, hermida rf, nolasco p

Coghlan lf, gload 1b, ramirez ss, cantu 3b, baker c, uggla 2b, ross cf, hermida rf, nolasco p

 

 

That's it.

I'm going to throw a bitch fit.

Coghlan lf, gload 1b, ramirez ss, cantu 3b, baker c, uggla 2b, ross cf, hermida rf, nolasco p

 

 

That's it.

I'm going to throw a bitch fit.

 

 

Ross Gload is very good against RHP. If anybody was going to replace NJ for today, he's the best choice.

Coghlan lf, gload 1b, ramirez ss, cantu 3b, baker c, uggla 2b, ross cf, hermida rf, nolasco p

 

 

That's it.

I'm going to throw a bitch fit.

 

Finally revealing your true self.

 

 

J/K. but whats wrong with Gload in the lineup? He mashes Right Handed Pitchers .289/.376/.445.

 

I'm guessing you wanted Gaby to get a start?

Coghlan lf, gload 1b, ramirez ss, cantu 3b, baker c, uggla 2b, ross cf, hermida rf, nolasco p

 

 

That's it.

I'm going to throw a bitch fit.

 

Finally revealing your true self.

 

 

J/K. but whats wrong with Gload in the lineup? He mashes Right Handed Pitchers .289/.376/.445.

 

I'm guessing you wanted Gaby to get a start?

 

 

Yup.

Coghlan lf, gload 1b, ramirez ss, cantu 3b, baker c, uggla 2b, ross cf, hermida rf, nolasco p

 

 

That's it.

I'm going to throw a bitch fit.

 

 

Ross Gload is very good against RHP. If anybody was going to replace NJ for today, he's the best choice.

 

Gload better produce today.

Coghlan lf, gload 1b, ramirez ss, cantu 3b, baker c, uggla 2b, ross cf, hermida rf, nolasco p

 

 

That's it.

I'm going to throw a bitch fit.

 

 

Ross Gload is very good against RHP. If anybody was going to replace NJ for today, he's the best choice.

 

Gload better produce today.

When hasn't Gload produced?

better than EB

True.

So what's the 'stros lineup today?

True.

So what's the 'stros lineup today?

 

 

Bourn, Tejada, Berkman, Lee, Blum, Pence, Matsui, Coste, Norris

GOOOOOOOOO FISH!

Thats a pretty good line-up to go against.

 

they've got like 5-6 guys who can really hack.

Ricky better be in that redemption-mode he's gone on before. He's brutal when he wants to prove something.

So we call Gaby up and play Gload. Makes sense.

Let's get it started CC!

2 up 2 down

Nice job Hanley.

he's no pudge

Gah, let's go Ricky.

Alright, Ricky. Let's get nasty.