Philadelphia @ Florida preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 3, 2011 ) Philadelphia 4, Florida 8

THE STORY: After watching his charges sleepwalk through the series opener on Friday, Florida Marlins manager Jack McKeon publicly declared that it was time for his team to wake up. After shuffling their feet through the first seven innings Saturday, the Marlins erupted for five runs in the eighth to post an 8-4 triumph over the Philadelphia Phillies. Although the victory was just Florida's sixth in 28 games, the Marlins have a chance to take two of three from major league-leading Philadelphia when the teams reconvene on Sunday. To do so, Florida will have to get the better of reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, WPHL (Philadelphia), FSFL (Florida)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Roy Halladay (16-5, 2.47 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Anibal Sanchez (7-7, 3.97 ERA).

Halladay collected his sixth win in seven decisions after scattering two hits and striking out nine over seven innings as the Phillies cruised to a 9-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday. The 34-year-old Halladay will vie for his first win of the season against the Marlins. Halladay fanned nine in a hard-luck loss on May 10 and yielded four runs in a no-decision on June 15. All told, Halladay has posted a 4-3 career mark versus the Marlins – highlighted by last season's perfect game.

Much like his team, Sanchez has seen his season spiral out of control. The 27-year-old Venezuelan has collected just one win in his last 14 starts, going 1-6 in the process. On Monday, Sanchez permitted two runs on seven hits in six innings, but his four walks led to his undoing in a 2-1 loss to the New York Mets. Sanchez has struggled mightily in his career against the Phillies, posting a 3-7 mark – although he has settled for a trio of no-decisions versus the NL East rival this season.

ABOUT THE PHILLIES (88-47): Antonio Bastardo couldn't find the strike zone and, as a result, he was saddled with his first loss of the season. After Cole Hamels tossed seven solid innings, Bastardo walked the only two batters he faced in the eighth inning. David Herndon entered the contest and promptly served up back-to-back homers to Gaby Sanchez and Mike Cameron. Former Phillie Greg Dobbs added a solo shot two batters later to cap the five-run eighth inning. Carlos Ruiz, who went 2-for-4, collected his sixth multi-hit game in his last 11 outings. Chase Utley is 15-for-31 in his career against Anibal Sanchez.

ABOUT THE MARLINS (61-77): Slugger Mike Stanton belted his 32nd homer of the season in the second inning, but exited the contest three frames later after trying to beat a slow roller to Utley. Stanton tumbled to the ground after hitting the base but walked off with a right hamstring injury. Sanchez is just 6-for-21 in his career versus Halladay, but two of the hits have left the ballpark. Stud shortstop Hanley Ramirez is expected to undergo season-ending surgery on his left shoulder. Team doctor Lee Kaplan recommended the surgery to repair Ramirez's ailing shoulder, although the precise day of the operation has not been set. The 27-year-old Ramirez is in the midst of his worst season with Florida, batting .243 with 10 home runs and 45 RBIs.

FINAL PITCH: Talk about your home-field disadvantage. Florida's victory on Saturday was just its sixth in its last 29 meetings against Philadelphia in Miami.