MIAMI — Emilio Bonifacio will undergo surgery on Friday to repair a ligament in his left thumb.

The Marlins center fielder, who paces the Majors with 20 steals, is expected to miss four to six weeks.

Bonifacio injured his thumb while attempting to steal second base at Cleveland on May 18. Using a head-first slide, Bonifacio was thrown out for the only time this year. On the play, his thumb jammed into the base.

Bonifacio initially thought he would only need the 15-days on the DL to recover. But a second examine and MRI revealed the ligament tear.

Injuries are starting to catch up to the Marlins.

Also on Thursday, the team announced Austin Kearns has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain. Kevin Mattison was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans.

Chris Coghlan, Bryan Petersen and Mattison can all play center field.

Kearns is a big loss because he was a right-handed bat off the bench. Now, Donovan Solano likely will take on more of a role. The infielder is taking fly balls in left field, and he is an option to play the position against a left-handed starter.

Solano is using one of Bonifacio’s outfield gloves.

– Joe Frisaro

MIAMI — After taking two of three from the Rockies, the Marlins open a four-game set with the Giants on Thursday at Marlins Park.

Anibal Sanchez gets the start for Miami, while the Giants are going with Ryan Vogelsong.

MARLINS

1) Reyes, SS

2) Infante, 2B

3) Ramirez, 3B

4) Dobbs, LF

5) Stanton, RF

6) Morrison, 1B

7) Hayes, C

8) Coghlan, CF

9) Sanchez, P

– Joe Frisaro

MIAMI — For a brief moment on Wednesday night, Carlos Zambrano almost let his temper get the best of him.

It was after he struck out, stranding a runner at third base in Miami’s 8-4 loss to the Rockies.

Frustrated, Zambrano raised the bat above his knee as if he would try to snap it in two. It didn’t happen.

Zambrano calmed himself and simply walked back to the dugout. There was no bat swipe at the water cooler. The pitcher just put his bat and helmet away.

The outbursts Zambrano showed in the past, during his tenure with the Cubs, are becoming things of the past.

Zambrano is more at peace with himself these days, and he credits his faith in God for changing his life. While pitching, Zambrano will regularly point to the sky. He’s also smiling more on the field.

“It’s easy when you’re doing good to talk about God, and [point to the sky], or if you hit a home run,” Zambrano said. “And then when you strikeout, you don’t do nothing. It’s easy to have a 1-something ERA, and pointing to God, but when you’re struggling, you don’t talk about God.

“I believe in God and I give thanks for being in this game. I will still talk about him because he changed my life. Even if I do a good job or I do a bad job, I glorify his name.”

– Joe Frisaro

MIAMI — About the most emotion you will see out of Ricky Nolasco is a small fist pump after recording a big out.

Other than that, the Marlins right-hander stays low key.

Ricky Nolasco sets Marlins’ record.

So setting the franchise record for most wins in Marlins history isn’t going to get him too pumped up.

“It’s not that important right now,” Nolasco says.

Nolasco on Tuesday became the club leader in wins when the Marlins beat the Rockies, 7-6, at Marlins Park.

Nolasco is now 69-53 in his big league career. Dontrelle Willis is second with 68 wins, and Josh Johnson is third with 50 wins.

“He always gets it done,” Johnson said of Nolasco. “It couldn’t happen to a better guy.”

The Marlins acquired Nolasco from the Cubs after the 2005 season as part of the Juan Pierre trade.

Nolasco and Johnson were both rookies in 2006. The two actually first met during the Double-A All-Star Game in Mobile in 2005.

Johnson was with the Marlins’ Carolina affiliate, while Nolasco pitched for West Tennessee.

Even as a Minor Leaguer, Nolasco always had a knack for winning. In the Cubs’ system, he was 43-22.

“I remember the first time I met him was at the Double-A All-Star Game,” Johnson said. “We were about the same age, and I went up trying to talk to him. And he didn’t say two words. I was like, alright. And I don’t say anything. I’m trying to make conversation. I was like, ‘Man, this guy is worse than I am.’ I was like, ‘Oh well, I’ll go sit over here.’ “

“We were both quiet guys,” Nolasco said. “I didn’t know anybody there really. I just kind of stuck to my own. I guess my people skills were a lot worse back then.”

When Johnson learned Nolasco was becoming a Marlin, he knew the organization was getting a talented pitcher.

“As soon as I found out he was on our team, I knew what he was going to do,” Johnson said. “He was going to start off in the big leagues, and be up here a long time.”

Nolasco and Johnson actually were set to pitch in the first game of the Double-A playoffs in 2005. But the night before Game 1 of the series, the Marlins called JJ up to the big leagues.

“They called my cel phone, like 11 or 11:30,” Johnson said. “I was pitching the next night against Ricky. They were like, ‘Hey, you’re going to the big leagues.’ “

Behind Nolasco, West Tennessee pitched a shutout in Game 1.

– Joe Frisaro

MIAMI — The Marlins offense is about to get another boost.

Omar Infante has returned to the starting lineup after missing three games due to a death in the family. The veteran second baseman’s grandfather passed away on Sunday, and Infante returned to Venezuela for the funeral.

Donnie Murphy had been filling in at second. Murphy on Tuesday night was hit by a pitch on the left hand. While it got him pretty good, it wasn’t the same wrist that he dislocated in 2010, which required surgery.

The Marlins have won three straight and they go for the sweep on Wednesday against the Rockies at Marlins Park.

MARLINS

1) Reyes, SS

2) Infante, 2B

3) Ramirez, 3B

4) Dobbs, 1B

5) Stanton, RF

6) Coghlan, LF

7) Hayes, C

8) Petersen, CF

9) Zambrano, P

– Joe Frisaro

MIAMI — Austin Kearns, who has made an impact in a reserve role, was removed from Tuesday’s game in the top of the fourth inning due to a tight right hamstring.

Kearns’ status is day to day.

The 32-year-old outfielder tweaked his leg while scoring from first on Giancarlo Stanton’s RBI double in the third inning. In the fourth inning, Colorado’s Michael Cuddyer doubled to left. Kearns had a tough time moving to the ball.

Miami substituted Chris Coghlan in left field for Kearns, who had a walk, single and run scored.

– Joe Frisaro

MIAMI — Home runs may be hard to come by in spacious Marlins Park.

But with so much room in the outfield, the ballpark is suited for triples.

In the first inning on Tuesday night, Bryan Petersen delivered an RBI triple to right field off Colorado’s Juan Nicasio.

The Marlins now have 13 triples on the season, which is tied with Milwaukee and San Diego for the third most in the Majors. The Giants have 14 triples. And the Rockies, who also play in a large ballpark, pace the league with 15.

Ten of the Marlins triples have been at Marlins Park. In all there have been 11 triples at Miami’s new home. Chicago’s Darwin Barney is the only visiting player with a triple at the new building.

Jose Reyes and Emilio Bonifacio are tied for the team lead in triples with three. And pitcher Anibal Sanchez had a triple at home.

There have been 19 triples at Coors Field, home of the Rockies.

– Joe Frisaro

MIAMI — Once again, Ricky Nolasco will go for the record.

Nolasco is tied with Dontrelle Willis for the all-time lead in victories by a Marlins’ pitcher. Both are at 68.

This is the third start the right-hander goes for the mark.

The Marlins face the Rockies on Tuesday night at Marlins Park. The lineup right now doesn’t include Omar Infante, who has been in Venezuela the past few days due to the passing of his grandfather. The hope was Infante would return to play on Tuesday.

MARLINS

1) Reyes, SS

2) Petersen, CF

3) Ramirez, 3B

4) Kearns, LF

5) Stanton, RF

6) Morrison, 1B

7) Buck, C

8) Murphy, 2B

9) Nolasco, P

– Joe Frisaro

MIAMI — Mark Buehrle came within a few feet of being the first Marlins pitcher to homer in three years.

In the fourth inning, Buehrle lined a shot off the wall near the 335-foot marker by the right-field foul pole. The hit was good for the second career double by the veteran left-hander, who spent 11 seasons with the White Sox.

Buehrle has hit one home run in his career. It came in 2009.

No Marlins pitcher has homered since Josh Johnson on Aug. 4, 2009 against the Nationals. That year, JJ delivered three home runs.

Miami’s rotation this year features Carlos Zambrano, who has 23 career home runs, all with the Cubs. Big Z had two a year ago.

Miami Rotation Home Runs

Carlos Zambrano, 23 career, 2 in 2011

Josh Johnson, 3 in 2009

Mark Buerhle, 1 in 2009

Ricky Nolasco, 1 in 2006

– Joe Frisaro

MIAMI — Next time Giancarlo Stanton belts a home run, pay attention to how the Marlins slugger rounds third base.

Stanton takes simulated toss from Espada. (Photo Robert Vigon/Miami Marlins)

Stanton and third base coach Joe Espada have come up with a ritual that is entertaining and yet safe for both parties.

The two were able to polish up on their celebration on Monday night when Stanton blistered a grand slam off Colorado’s Jamie Moyer in the fourth inning. The blast was hit so hard, it knocked out some lights on the auxiliary scoreboard in left field. The shot was estimated at 438 feet.

On each Stanton HR, Espada will simulate tossing an underhand high-five that Stanton will receive up high. Sometimes, Stanton pretends he is catching a football.

“It’s like, turning the corner and catching a football,” said Stanton, who played football in high school and was offered a scholarship at Southern California.

Espada also does a low-key home run celebration with Hanley Ramirez. When Ramirez rounds third, Espada simulates handing a football off. Hanley pretends he’s a running back, taking the ball on his way to home plate.

When it comes to Stanton, Espada has made it a point not to shake his hand or do an actual high-five. The reason is a year ago, Stanton slapped Espada so hard, the coach almost injured his shoulder.

Stanton slam knocked lights out on scoreboard

“Last year in San Diego, I stood there to shake his hand,” Espada said. “The adrenaline, the strength. But he hit me, and I thought he had knocked my shoulder out of place.

“So I said, ‘You know what, kid, I will never, ever again shake your hand during a home run,’ ” Espada told the slugger. ” ‘So, I’m going to just throw you the high-five. Instead of giving my congratulations to you, I’m just going to throw it to you.’ Now, we’re like catching a football. Like I do a handoff with Hanley.”

Added Stanton: “I get a little pumped up. I almost knocked his shoulder out. Now, we’re non contact.”

Stanton says he and Espada are changing the routine up. Sometimes he will hold up two hands like catching a football. And others he may reach up one hand over his head, like he is making a one-handed grab.

“We’re mixing it up every time,” Stanton said. “Sometimes it’s like a football.”   The flipping the fake football at Stanton, Espada points out, is the safest way to celebrate a home run.

“I’m not going near Stanton ever again,” the third base coach said.

– Joe Frisaro