• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Yankees-Marlins Preview

Jun 19, 2009 - 5:17 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

New York (37-28) at Florida (32-35), 7:10 p.m. EDT

The last time the New York Yankees faced the Florida Marlins, Joe Girardi was in the midst of earning NL Manager of the Year honors while leading a young Marlins club into playoff contention late in the season.

After an abrupt ending to his time in Miami, though, it's safe to say this weekend's meeting between the teams won't be a warm reunion.

Girardi eventually ended up with the Yankees after his firing in Florida, and he'll visit his former team for the first time Friday as New York tries to avoid what would be a surprising three-game losing streak.

Little was expected of the Marlins in 2006 with an inexperienced roster that had been decimated by trades and free agency. In his first managerial stint, however, Girardi helped Florida finish 78-84 and hang in the wild- card race into September.

He was rewarded as the NL Manager of the Year, but that didn't stop Florida from dismissing him after he reportedly clashed with owner Jeffrey Loria.

"Joe is not returning because it was not a good fit," then-general manager and current president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest said at the time. "I will take some of that blame. I'm in charge, and it's my job to make sure everything runs as smoothly and efficiently as possible."

Girardi was hired by the Yankees (37-29) before last year, and although New York missed the playoffs for the first time since 1993, the club is off to a strong start to this season.

The Yankees had won 22 of 32 before dropping the final two games of their home set against lowly Washington this week.

The Nationals had the worst ERA - and record - in the majors entering the series, but New York managed two runs in the last two games, with Alex Rodriguez running his hitless streak to 15 at-bats. He is 3 for his last 36 (.083).

"I have to continue to be patient and not beat myself up," Rodriguez, who is coming off hip surgery, told his team's official Web site.

Derek Jeter was held out of the starting lineup for the second straight day in Thursday's 3-0 loss due to an ankle injury, although he did pinch hit.

Andy Pettitte (6-3, 4.52 ERA) will try to help New York avoid its second three-game slide in the last 10 days, but the left-hander has had problems with efficiency lately.

He has completed five innings in three of his last four starts - including Saturday, when the New York Mets notched five runs and 11 hits off him in their 6-2 win.

"Andy just had a bad start, that's all," Girardi said.

Pettitte pitched seven innings in a 12-0 win for Houston the last time he faced the Marlins on July 15, 2006. He also had a 0.57 ERA in two starts versus Florida for the Yankees in the 2003 World Series, which the Marlins won in six games.

The teams have only faced off in one series since, with Girardi's Marlins losing two of three at Yankee Stadium in 2006.

Florida (33-35) got the same results at Fenway Park this week, salvaging the finale 2-1 in six innings Thursday in a game shortened by rain.

Now, rookie Sean West (2-1, 3.00) will look for his third straight victory. In his fifth major league start, the 6-foot-8 left-hander allowed four hits, four walks and four runs in 5 2-3 innings at Toronto on Saturday in a 6-5 win.

He threw eight innings, allowing two hits, to beat San Francisco 4-0 in his last home start.

This will be the Yankees' first game in an NL park this year as they open a nine-game road trip after playing their first nine interleague games at home.

"You have to be a little bit more creative when you play National League baseball," said Girardi, whose team has relied on the home run, leading the majors with 104.

"You might have to create runs in a little bit different way."