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Giants-Marlins Preview

Jun 6, 2009 - 5:56 AM By DAN PIERINGER STATS Writer

San Francisco (27-25) at Florida (26-29), 6:10 p.m. EDT

San Francisco Giants first baseman Pablo Sandoval has been solid at the plate lately. Thanks to the team's starting pitching, his success is translating directly to the win column.

Sandoval looks to continue to provide the offense for San Francisco's dominating starting rotation as the Giants go for their ninth win in 11 games Saturday night against the Florida Marlins.

Sandoval hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning of Friday's series opener. Though that was all the offense the Giants (28-25) could muster, it was enough for Barry Zito, who held the Marlins to one run and four hits over five innings of the 2-1 victory.

Sandoval is 9 for 24 (.375) with a homer, three doubles, seven RBIs and four runs in his last eight games.

Those contributions have gone a long way because Giants starters have allowed three earned runs or fewer in 16 of the team's last 17 games. Among the best in the majors with a 3.69 ERA this season, San Francisco's rotation has a 2.20 ERA since May 17.

Giants starters have been even more dominant during a three-game winning streak. Though San Francisco has totaled a modest 11 runs, its starters have allowed only three - two earned - and 11 hits over 16 innings.

Jonathan Sanchez (2-4, 4.75 ERA) will take the mound hoping to extend that streak. The left-hander lasted just 4 1-3 innings Sunday against St. Louis, giving up three runs and six hits in San Francisco's 5-3 win.

Sanchez, who has made it through at least six innings just twice in nine starts this season, has no record and a 3.38 ERA in two relief appearances against Florida.

The Marlins (26-30) stranded 12 baserunners and went 2 for 12 with runners in scoring position Friday, their third one-run loss in their last eight games.

"We had some chances but we just couldn't get that little bleeder or that one that goes between infielders," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "That's a heck of a pitching staff they've got over there from their starters to their bullpen. They showed it today and we matched them. But they got one more than we did."

The Marlins hope to bounce back with Andrew Miller (1-2, 4.76). The left-hander is 1-1 with a 3.63 ERA in four starts since returning from a one-month stint on the disabled list with a strained oblique. He surrendered four runs - three earned - in 4 1-3 innings of a 7-4 win over Milwaukee on Monday.

Miller has never faced San Francisco.

Giants outfielder Aaron Rowand had three hits in the series opener, extending his hitting streak to 15 games, the longest active streak in the NL. He's 20 for 42 (.476) with eight multihit performances in his last 11 games against the Marlins, lifting his career average against them to .358.