CINCINNATI -- Approximately a quarter of the season is completed, and at their current pace, the Marlins are headed to setting franchise records for runs scored and home runs.

Wednesday was game No. 40 for first-place Florida, and a strength of the team has been its run production.

The Marlins entered the night at Great American Ball Park against the Reds with 191 runs scored, which is seventh best in the Major Leagues. In terms of homers, Florida topped both leagues with 57.

"We've been more consistent," shortstop Hanley Ramirez said. "We're playing a lot better right now. And guys are being more patient at the plate."

The nucleus of the team has been together since they were rookies in 2006, a season where the squad exceeded expectations and helped Joe Girardi win the National League Manager of the Year Award.

"The numbers speak for themselves that we've got a squad that can hit the ball pretty well," said pitcher Scott Olsen, who has openly talked about how good the team's offense is. "I don't think it's a secret."

Because of the Marlins lack of experience and league-low $22 million payroll, many projected scoring runs to be troublesome. Much of that argument was grounded in the fact slugger Miguel Cabrera was traded to the Tigers last December.

Even without Cabrera, the Marlins have scored at a pace that would rewrite the team record books. The squad is rolling along at a clip to score 793 runs and connect on 237 homers.

The franchise high in both categories was set in 2007: 790 runs and 201 home runs.

"If you look at our lineup, and I've said it a number of times, if you look up and down at our lineup, we've got guys who can swing the bat," right fielder Jeremy Hermida said. "I think that's helped us get to where we are right now. It hasn't been just two guys on fire."

Ramirez is the catalyst to the lineup, with his 34 runs scored. Dan Uggla has 29, while Jorge Cantu has 21 and Hermida is at 20.

The run production has stayed consistent, even at a time when Mike Jacobs has rested a tight quadriceps, and Josh Willingham is on the disabled list with a lower back strain. But infielder Wes Helms and outfielder Luis Gonzalez have been filling in and making an impact.

"Everybody knows we've got a lot of talent," Ramirez said. "But what does the talent mean if you don't show it? We've got to show it."

A byproduct of hitting for power is a high strikeout total. With 319, the Marlins lead the Major Leagues in that department.

The team is on pace to slightly lower its strikeout total from a year ago. In '07, the team fanned 1,332 times. It is on a clip to finish 1,325.

"When you have a lot of guys who can hit a lot of home runs, that's going to happen," Ramirez said of the strikeouts.