New York @ Florida preview
Sun Life Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 21, 2010 ) NY Mets 2, Florida 5
Even though the Florida Marlins are out of the National League playoff race, a talented group of rookies has given them plenty of reason to be excited about the future.
The Marlins' youthful brigade will look for its third consecutive win tonight when their three-game series with the New York Mets continues at Sun Life Stadium.
Rookie first baseman Gaby Sanchez hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning of Tuesday's series opener, lifting the Marlins to a 5-2 win.
Sanchez is making a case for at least some consideration for the NL Rookie of the Year award, as his three hits Tuesday raised his average to .283 and his go-ahead blast gave him 19 homers and 81 RBIs. Sanchez has done plenty of damage against the Mets this year, hitting .406 with three homers and 15 RBIs.
But he has hardly been Florida's only rookie hero.
A day earlier, rookie catcher Brad Davis launched a grand slam to beat the Cardinals 4-0, and outfielder Logan Morrison has been one of the team's hottest hitters in September. With one hit Tuesday, Morrison has hit safely in 17 of 19 games this month and is batting .347 (25-for-72) with 15 walks in September.
Fellow rookie outfielder Mike Stanton has struggled recently, going 2-for-14 without an extra-base hit in his past six games, but his 20 home runs rank third on the team despite the fact he wasn't called up from the minors until June 8.
Another rookie will have a chance to shine for the Marlins tonight, as 22-year-old right-hander Alex Sanabia takes the mound.
Sanabia (4-3, 3.88 ERA) hopes his second start against the Mets goes as well as the first. The rookie held New York to three runs - two earned - on four hits over 6 1/3 innings to earn the win in a 5-4 victory Aug. 25 at Citi Field.
Sanabia didn't fare as well in one relief appearance against the Mets, allowing two runs - one earned - over two innings June 30.
In his last start, Sanabia was a tough-luck loser, allowing two runs over 5 2/3 innings but finding himself on the wrong end of a shutout, as the Chicago Cubs beat the Marlins 2-0 on Friday.
The Marlins have won 11 of 17 meetings with the Mets this season, including seven of eight at home, but 23-year-old left-hander Jonathon Niese will try to turn around that trend when he starts for the Mets tonight.
Niese (9-9, 3.76 ERA) has lost his last two starts and four of his last five, compiling a 5.93 ERA during that stretch. The Marlins started the rough patch in motion Aug. 26 in New York, scoring seven runs off Niese in 5 2/3 innings en route to an 11-4 win.
That outing was indicative of Niese's record against the Marlins all season - he is 1-3 with a 5.66 ERA in four starts against them. Niese's one start at Sun Life Stadium was a brief one. He lasted only two-plus innings in a 10-8 loss May 16, allowing five runs - two earned - on four hits.
Florida shortstop Hanley Ramirez returned to the lineup Tuesday after missing four games with an injured left elbow. He went 1-for-4 and scored a run and is hitting .352 with three homers and 14 RBIs against New York this year.