The Florida Marlins gave up ten runs in the fifth inning and went on to lose to the Tampa Bay Rays by the score of 15-2.  Now that is an old fashioned butt kicking that the Marlins will just have to forget about before they head to the ballpark on Thursday.  It will now take a Marlins win on Thursday to avoid the three game sweep by their neightbors to the North.

Starting pitcher Ryan Tucker only lasted four innings as he gave up eight hits and seven runs including two home runs.  Carl Crawford took Tucker deep twice in the game including a three run shot and a solo home run.  Tucker was charged with three more runs in the fifth inning as well.

Eulogio De La Cruz gave up six more runs in the fifth inning after he came in for Tucker.  De La Cruz gave up a two run home run Evan Longoria and then all hell broke loose as the Rays pushed across four more runs to blow the game wide open.  Logan Kensing pitched the fifth and sixth innings and gave up one run.  Renyel Pinto, Justin Miller, and Kevin Gregg all pitched one inning of relief after Kensing left the game.  Miller gave up a solo home run to Ben Zobrist.  It was like the Marlins pitchers didn’t know how to throw the ball and get people out it.

Not that it really mattered but Mike Jacobs hit a solo home run in the sixth inning and then Dan Uggla had a rbi single in the eighth inning.  Matt Treanor scored on an error in the ninth inning to make the score 15-3.

This Marlins Blog is currently looking for a contributer that would like to blog some game recaps and then other blogs about the Marlins.  If you are interested please click the contact us link on the main page or leave a comment here and we will get back to you!

Kyle Skipworth a catching prospect from Patriot High School in Riverside, California was drafted by the Florida Marlins with the sixth overall pick in the baseball draft today.  Skipworth is actually the 200-7-2008 Gatorade Player of the Year as well.  The Marlins picked up a great player it looks like.

Skipworth hopes to begin his pro career between June 15-20. The Marlins will place him, like just about all their high school choices, in the Gulf Coast League.  He has already agreeded to a contract, but cannot sign that until he graduates from high school on June 11th.

I have the opportunity to conduct a phone interview with Mr. Skipworth if I would like to.  I was wondering if there are any questions that Marlins fans would like to ask the young catcher?  Leave a comment with your question and either I or Andrew who has been writing game recaps will conduct the interview if we get enough questions.

Here are a few stats for you as well that have been emailed to me from the Gatorade Player Of The Year Program.

·         Produced a .543 batting average, 51 runs scored, 47 RBI and 12 home runs, 1.117 slugging percentage and .627 on-base percentage
·         Set a California state record when he put together a streak of 18 straight hits in 18 official at-bats this spring
·         Led 2007 USA Baseball Junior National Team to a bronze medal at the COPABE “AAA” Pan American Junior Championships in Mexico
·         Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic Selection
·         2007 Area Codes Games Participant
·         Plays for the Angels Elite Scout Team and the ABD Bulldogs Travel Team
·         Maintains a 3.81 GPA