Marlins trying to recapture opening week magic

PHILADELPHIA -- So much of the magic at the plate that was prevalent during the opening homestand has disappeared on the road for the Marlins.

In their 5-2 home swing to launch the season, the Marlins scored 42 runs and batted .294. The hitters in the lineup fed off each other and provided plenty of support to win two straight series.

It's been a complete struggle on the road. Miami was swept at Washington and dropped Friday night's series opener at Philadelphia.

In the first four games on the trip, the Marlins scored 11 runs and are batting .215 as a team.

"The first week of the season, we had a lot of big hits, two-out hits," manager Mike Redmond said. "Sometimes that just goes with the momentum of the lineup. I think we got pitched tough a couple of nights there in Washington. At the same time, too, that can all change in one night as well."

The Marlins have mixed in some veterans with a young nucleus, and there are still some growing pains.

"We still have some young guys in our lineup, and that's still part of the process of these guys learning to hit at the big league level and learning the pitching," Redmond said. "I think overall, I'm happy with the approach and the attitude. And guys are up there working, trying to get themselves into good hitters' counts. I know those hits are going to come."

Giancarlo Stanton points to the tough loss at Washington on Wednesday, when the team let a five-run lead slip away in a 10-7 loss. He said the game felt like a punch to the face.

"That's what younger and less experienced teams will do," Stanton said. "You don't always react [the right way], because you haven't gone through it at this level. We have the combo of both [veterans and young], but that's what happens in those situations."

Stanton says the time is now to stop the bleeding.

"It can't be a let it happen type deal, especially here," the slugger said. "If you say, 'We're all right, we're all right,' and if you let it keep going a few more days, then it's going to get out of hand."