As Redmond shuffles order, Mahoney hits cleanup

MIAMI -- Still mixing and matching with the lineup, Marlins manager Mike Redmond went with Joe Mahoney in the cleanup spot on Thursday.

In Tuesday's day/night doubleheader at Minnesota, the left-handed hitting first baseman batted sixth in the first game and eighth in the second.

On Thursday, in the series opener against the Cubs, Mahoney was slotted to provide immediate protection behind Giancarlo Stanton.

"We talked about going from eighth to the four-hole. Why not?" Redmond said. "He's a big, strong guy. He's got some pop. We'll get him in there and get him at-bats and see what he does. He's got a good swing. He plays good defense at first. He's a guy who needs to get some at-bats to see what he can do."

Formerly in the Orioles' system, Mahoney was claimed off waivers Nov. 30 after he batted .265 with 10 homers and 56 RBIs in Triple-A. The 26-year-old appeared in two big league games for Baltimore and was hitless in four at-bats.

On April 20 at Cincinnati, he collected his first MLB hit. In the doubleheader at Minnesota, he was 4-for-8 with a double and two RBIs.

The 6-foot-6, 245-pound player from Albany, N.Y., is ready to contribute anyway he can.

"First game I hit sixth, and the second game, I hit eighth," Mahoney said. "It's just wherever Red needs me. I know we're trying to find a good mix."

Mahoney opened the season on the disabled list due to an intercostal strain, so right now, his season is basically entering its second week.

"It's weird. It's like my first week of the season, because I'd been hurt," he said. "I'm going into my second week now. I'm starting to get in the grove of things."

Mahoney feels he is becoming a more patient hitter compared to a year ago.

"Staying within myself, that's something I preach a lot," he said. "I'm so big, when I get out of my swing, it's not pretty, and things don't happen. When I'm through it, and short, and try to stay up the middle, I definitely become a lot better hitter.

"I'm not waiting for that perfect pitch right down the middle. You don't get that pitch in the big leagues."