By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com
When you're hot, you don't analyze it, you just try to keep things rolling along.
The Marlins clearly are smoking hot right now.
Winners of seven straight, they are pacing the National League East and sit an eye-opening nine games over .500.
After sweeping the Nationals at Washington, the road trip heads to Cincinnati on Monday for the first of four games with the Reds.
How do you explain the fun ride?
"You don't," outfielder Jeremy Hermida said. "You don't try to. I think you just ride it, and keep going out there, playing like you're playing.
"If we hadn't won six in a row before that, I'd say it was a big momentum shift for us. But I think it's just this team believing we can do it."
One driving force in the hot streak is the realization that early-season wins can ultimately be important later in the season.
"I said it earlier and I'll say it again, these games in April and May, they play a big part in September," said Dan Uggla, who has hit three home runs and driven in eight over the last two games.
Home runs have carried the club all season, as has the rest of the offense. As a team, the Marlins hit three on Sunday, increasing their total to 53 on the season. Only the Phillies have hit more in the Major Leagues.
"The thing about this team is you never know," Uggla said. "We've got a lot of guys with a lot of pop, and they can do a lot of good things."
The Marlins are two wins shy of their longest winning streak ever. They last won nine straight from Aug. 20-29, 2006.
A number of current Marlins were rookies on the 2006 squad, which twice had nine-game strings.
The offense may also get a boost on Monday if first baseman Mike Jacobs returns to the lineup.
Jacobs has been out since last Wednesday with tightness in his left quad.
<!--CHANGE c_id for team-specific probables page--> Pitching matchup
FLA: RHP Burke Badenhop (1-2, 6.31 ERA)
It took five starts, but Badenhop now can celebrate his first MLB win. The 25-year-old, one of the pieces in the Dontrelle Willis/Miguel Cabrera trade, was victorious in his last outing, beating the Brewers at home. In 5 2/3 innings, he yielded two runs -- both off a Rickie Weeks homer. Badenhop had a career-high seven strikeouts, and his control was good, as he walked just one. It marked Badenhop's second straight strong outing. On May 1, in a no-decision, he logged a career-high six innings, giving up three runs.
CIN: RHP Aaron Harang (1-5, 3.09 ERA)
Harang has gotten little run support and has the semi-consolation of being the best 1-5 pitcher in baseball. He threw seven innings and allowed three earned runs in a 3-0 loss to the Cubs on Tuesday. In Harang's five losses, the Reds have scored two or fewer runs four times. He's worked seven quality starts in eight games and is among the National League leaders in strikeouts with 47.
Tidbits
Uggla now has 10 career homers off the Nationals, including four at Nationals Park this season. He has seven homers and 15 RBIs in his last nine games. ... Hermida hadn't homered since April 11 before he went deep one month later, Sunday at Washington. ... Kevin Gregg notched his seventh save of the season. ... Hanley Ramirez ran his hitting streak to six straight with a single in the third inning on Sunday.
On television
• FSN
On radio
• WAXY 790, WQBA 1140 (Español)
<!--CHANGE c_id for team-specific probables page; section now should include starters, with W/L and ERA like this:--> Up next
• Tuesday: Marlins (Mark Hendrickson, 5-1, 3.56) at Reds (Edinson Volquez, 5-1, 1.06), 7:10 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Marlins (Ricky Nolasco, 2-3, 5.35) at Reds (Bronson Arroyo, 2-4, 7.14), 7:10 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Marlins (Andrew Miller, 3-2, 6.52) at Reds (TBD), 7:10 p.m. ET .
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