Florida manager Edwin Rodriguez is just about willing to try anything to help his team stop a dismal slide.

"I might come in early (Saturday) and turn the calendar one month ... make them think it's July," Rodriguez said with a smile after the Marlins dropped to 1-16 this month after losing 5-1 to the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night.

The Marlins, who have also lost eight in a row, got a homer from John Buck. Florida went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position.

"I think they're pressing too much," Rodriguez said. "They know we've been struggling. We're not hitting, period."

Sean Rodriguez finished with four RBIs for Tampa Bay. He put the Rays ahead with a two-run homer during the second off Brad Hand (0-3), and added a two-run double in the eighth.

Kelly Shoppach made it 3-0 on a third-inning solo shot.

Before the game, Florida optioned outfielder Chris Coghlan to Triple-A New Orleans. The 2009 NL Rookie of the Year hit .230 with five homers and 22 RBIs in 65 games this season.

Florida also purchased the contract of outfielder Dewayne Wise from New Orleans. He started in center and went 2 for 4.

Wade Davis (6-5) allowed one run, six hits, two walks and had two strikeouts.

Edwin Rodriguez was ejected by plate umpire Ted Barrett for arguing after Sean Rodriguez's fan-interference eighth-inning double scored a pair and extended the Tampa Bay advantage to 5-1. The umpires sent Evan Longoria, who was on first, home on the play where a fan down the right-field line reached over the wall to grab the baseball.

The Florida manager felt the umpires should have ruled it a ground-rule double, which would have kept Longoria at third.

"We didn't score, so that didn't change the outcome of the game," Buck said.

Kyle Farnsworth pitched the final 1 1-3 innings for his 15th save. He replaced J.P. Howell with two on and two outs in the eighth and retired Mike Stanton on an infield pop fly.

Buck cut the deficit to 3-1 with a solo shot in the fifth.

"It's obviously a frustrating time for everybody," he said.

Hand allowed three runs and three hits over 4 2-3 innings in his third major league start. The left-hander struck out two and walked three during a 98-pitch outing.

"He kept us in the game, although he made a lot of pitches," Edwin Rodriguez said.

The announced crowd for the matchup between the two Florida teams was just 15,708. The Rays entered Friday averaging an AL-low home attendance of 18,257.

NOTES Marlins ace Josh Johnson (right shoulder inflammation) resumed throwing off a bullpen mound. He hopes to rejoin the rotation in mid-July. ... Wise and Emilio Bonifacio will both get playing time in center. ... Florida RHP Edward Mujica was unavailable due to a wrist injury.