Ramirez, Cooper join slumping Marlins' lineup

NEW YORK -- Needing to spark an offense that has scored the fewest runs in the Major Leagues, the Marlins on Saturday selected the contract of left fielder Harold Ramirez from Triple-A New Orleans and reinstated right fielder Garrett Cooper from the 10-day injured list.

Ramirez, who was in Saturday’s starting lineup against the Mets for his Major League debut, hit .355 with four home runs and 14 RBIs for New Orleans. He got his first big league hit with a single in the ninth inning off Edwin Diaz in Miami's 4-1 loss.

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Marlins manager Don Mattingly said he liked the fact that Ramirez hits the ball all over the field.

Ramirez acknowledged that he had butterflies before his debut and said that he wants to help the team win. Asked why he was having success in the Minor Leagues, Ramirez said, “I started to use my legs, more of my hands. I started to do some work at the gym with the trainers, who made me [stronger].”

Cooper was the Marlins' Opening Day right fielder but has played in only four games around two stints on the injured list, first for a left calf strain and then for a left hand contusion after he was hit by a pitch. He, too, was in the starting lineup against the Mets. The Marlins hope he can duplicate what he did during Spring Training, when he went 17-for-43 (.395).

“I don’t know if we are looking for a spark, necessarily,” Mattingly said. "We are trying to get the best combination of guys. Harold is swinging the bat well. Coop swung the bat well during the spring. We just have to keep Coop on the field and see what he can do here. Obviously, you are trying to find offense. You are trying to find the best combination of guys that are going to give you the best at-bats."

The Marlins also recalled right-hander Elieser Hernandez from New Orleans. Needing a long man after using right-hander Austin Brice and left-hander José Quijada in Friday’s 11-2 loss to the Mets, they brought back Hernandez, who had a 1.16 ERA in 31 innings over six starts for the Baby Cakes.

“It put us in a little bit of a bind. We wanted to make sure we were good for the next few days, and we’ll see what happens from there,” Mattingly said.

To make room on the 25-man roster, Miami optioned Quijada and outfielder Isaac Galloway to New Orleans; placed outfielder Peter O'Brien on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Friday, with a left rib cage contusion; and transferred right-hander Drew Steckenrider to the 60-day injured list. Steckenrider was diagnosed with a right forearm flexor strain and will seek a second opinion.