Florida @ San Diego preview
Petco Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 30, 2010 ) Florida 4, San Diego 2
For all intensive purposes, the Florida Marlins have waved the white flag on this season.
Sitting in fourth place in the National League East and recently trading away one of its most productive hitters, the Marlins appear content with waiting another year to make a playoff push.
But don’t tell that to the players, who appear intent on grinding it out until the end, as evident by Friday’s 4-2 win over NL West-leading San Diego.
A day after trading Jorge Cantu to Texas, the Marlins were picked up offensively by Cody Ross and Gaby Sanchez, who belted solo home runs - giving the club 10 long balls in the first five games of its current road trip.
The four runs were one more than Florida managed total upon being swept by the Padres late last month.
The two squads will battle in the second of the three-game set on Saturday at Petco Park.
The Padres’ loss, coupled with a win by San Francisco, decreased San Diego’s division lead to just 2.5 games over the Giants.
Kevin Correia (7-6, 5.09 ERA) might be the right guy to get the Padres back into the win column. The right-hander, who will aim for his third consecutive win, has just two losses over his previous nine starts.
Although, Correia may not exactly be licking his chops to face the Marlins. In his career against them, he has made 12 appearances - five starts - and is 2-2 with a 6.94 ERA after allowing 28 earned runs in 36 1/3 innings.
He’ll need more support than the two runs the Padres managed in the losing effort Friday.
Drawing the start for Florida is Ricky Nolasco, who is in the midst of mini hot streak. The right-hander has won two straight and six of his past seven outings. In his past two wins, Nolasco has allowed a combined three runs and eight hits over 14 1/3 innings.
Nolasco has fared well in his career against San Diego, going 2-2 with a 3.94 ERA in six appearances - five starts.
Florida's Leo Nunez continues his strong campaign in his first year as a full-time closer.
Nunez closed out Friday’s win by striking out a pair in the ninth to pick up his 24th save in 29 opportunities. He hasn’t blown a lead in the last 11 chances, giving up just three runs in that span.