Back on July 11, in Los Angeles, 21 year old Chris Volstad took to the mound as a starter for the first time in his young MLB career. Volstad went out and pitched 8 2/3 innings, scattered 5 hits, allowed 1 run while striking out 6 and the Marlins beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1. Normally young pitchers are given a chance by teams out of contention for a playoff spot. Volstad however was asked to step into the middle of the fire in the NL East and help the Marlins in their playoff pursuit, consider the challenge answered.

Last night against the St. Louis Cardinals Volstad answered the call again. Though shaky early, giving up 5 hits and 3 ER in the top of the 1st, Volstad shut it down afterward not allowing another hit in the next 4 innings he pitched, and his teammates picked up the slack. Marlins relievers allowed 1 hit in the final 4 innings and the Marlins defeated the Cardinals 4-3.

Mike Jacobs got one run back in the bottom of the first on an RBI double. Hanley Ramirez hit a 3R-HR in the bottom of the second, and that was all that was needed for the Marlins to prevail 4-3 in a rain delayed game Tuesday night in Miami. With the Philadelphia Phillies again losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Marlins move to within 1 1/2 games of first place in the NL East.

Volstad improved his record to an impressive 4-2 on the season. Volstad has worked 38.2 innings this season, has an ERA of 3.03, and has struck out 26. Volstad is not just beating up on weak opponents either, he has shut down the Dodgers, Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and now the Cardinals. Marlins fans have seen young pitchers impress before, Josh Beckett, Dontrelle Willis, AJ Burnett, to name a few. As the Marlins race toward the end of the 2008 season, contending for a playoff spot, all 5 starters in the rotation are going to be important. Volstad continues to show that he is ready to answer the call and help his team when asked to do so, pretty impressive for a kid.