The Florida Marlins Hope To Start Winning Again When they Play Tampa Bay

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The Florida Marlins Hope To Start Winning Again When they Play Tampa Bay

The Florida Marlins are in a horrific skid of legendary proportions. The season is in a tail spin and they hope a visit against in-state interleague rival will change things up.

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Losers of seven straight and 18 of their last 21, the Marlins head into their second series of the season with the Rays that starts Friday night at Tropicana Field.

Florida dropped the finale of a four-game set against the Phillies, 3-0, on Thursday afternoon, and was outscored, 25-6, in the series. The last time the Marlins were in a rut like this came in 1998, when they dropped 19 of 22.

The Rays, who play the Red Sox in the rubber match of a three-game series Thursday night, have played even ball since sweeping the Angels last week. Tampa Bay's split its last six games, which included a one-day pit stop in Detroit to play a make-up game -- that came Monday, a day after a series in Baltimore, and a day before the series with the Red Sox started in St. Petersburg.

Tired or not, the Rays would have to win the series with the Marlins to at least finish even on the season series. Florida took two of three May 20-22.

Tampa Bay sends right-hander Wade Davis to the mound on Friday, while Florida turns to 21-year-old Brad Hand, who'll be making just his third career start.

"I'm looking to continue what I was doing in the Minor Leagues," said Hand, who was promoted June 6. "It's the same game. You've got to execute pitches, and pitch down in the zone."

Hand hasn't pitched in Interleague Play before, be but he did face Evan Longoria when the Rays' third baseman was on a rehab assignment this season. Longoria homered and walked in the game.

"It was a 3-2 fastball that was down and in," Hand said. "I had him 2-2 and threw a curveball that was pretty much down the middle. My manager ended up getting tossed for that because he thought it was a strike. It was pretty much down the middle. Whatever."

For Marlins reliever Randy Choate, the series will put him in the ballpark he called home the last two years, but will also put him in what he feels could be the best road clubhouse around.

"It was a great place for me for two years," Choate said. "I'm excited to go there. I've already seen the guys who came through [Miami earlier this year]. Going back to that stadium will be nice."

"It's a great visiting clubhouse. Probably the best in the league. I had a great experience there. I loved pretty much everything about it. The stadium, it is what it is. I had a great time there. It's not like the fans will give me a big standing ovation or anything. They probably won't remember who I am or anything."

Davis has allowed a combined nine runs in his last two starts, the most recent of which was a 9-6 win against the Orioles on Sunday. He allowed four earned runs in six innings.

Hand has pitched well, allowing a combined four runs in his two outings, but hasn't gone deeper than six innings.

The Marlins will finally break their losing streak with a win in game one against the Tampa Bay Rays.

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