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Marlins-Giants Preview

Jul 8, 2009 - 6:45 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Florida (43-41) at San Francisco (45-37), 3:45 p.m. EDT

The Florida Marlins caught a break by avoiding the NL's reigning Cy Young Award winner during their visit to San Francisco, but they've had enough trouble with the Giants' other starters in a pair of losses.

With the way Ryan Sadowski has pitched in his first two major league outings, San Francisco seems more than capable of completing a sweep.

Sadowski has begun his career with two wins and 13 scoreless innings, a streak he'll hope to lengthen Wednesday afternoon as the Giants try to deal the Marlins their sixth consecutive road loss.

San Francisco (46-37) has its share of accomplished starters in its rotation, with seven Cy Young awards between the injured Randy Johnson, Barry Zito and reigning NL winner Tim Lincecum, not to mention 2009 All-Star Matt Cain.

Sadowski (2-0, 0.00 ERA) was only called up because of the struggles of fifth starter Jonathan Sanchez, but the move has paid off thus far.

Sadowski gave up four hits over six innings in his debut June 28 at Milwaukee in a 7-0 win, then limited Houston to three hits over seven innings, striking out four, in a 13-0 victory Friday.

"The kid was good, he was outstanding," manager Bruce Bochy said. "We had it all going tonight."

Sadowski's 13 scoreless innings to begin his career are the longest such streak by a Giant since Mike Remlinger's 15 shutout innings in 1991.

The Miami native will now get a chance to face the team he grew up following, and the Marlins (43-42) haven't had the look of a team capable of putting up big offensive numbers thus far at AT&T Park. They scored two runs - one earned - off Cain in the series-opening 5-4 loss, and were limited to four hits over 8 1-3 innings by Zito in a 3-0 loss Tuesday.

It was the third straight game the Marlins have played without star shortstop Hanley Ramirez, who's out with a right hip flexor. Ramirez, the NL's leading hitter at .346, seems unlikely to return Wednesday.

"He's making progress, but not as much as we'd hoped," manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Another south Florida native will oppose Sadowski, but Chris Volstad (5-8, 4.85) hasn't been pitching nearly as well recently. Volstad was 4-5 with a 3.65 ERA through his first 12 starts, but he's begun to unravel in his past five outings, going 1-3 with an 8.51 ERA.

His latest start, Friday against Pittsburgh, lasted only three innings, but that was only partially due to a 45-minute rain delay. Volstad allowed four runs and three hits - two homers - in a 7-4 loss.

"I would have liked that delay to be a little shorter so I could go out there again," said Volstad, who has a 3.63 ERA in four afternoon starts. "The trend so far this year is the pitches I leave up they're hitting out."

Volstad's only career start against the Giants - on June 5 - was a loss, but he didn't pitch poorly. The right-hander gave up two runs and eight hits over six innings, striking out five, in a 2-1 loss at Land Shark Stadium.

Pablo Sandoval, in the running for the NL's final All-Star spot, homered off Volstad.

Sandoval went 0 for 4 Tuesday, but he'd be a shoo-in for the All-Star team if he could play at home more often. Sandoval is hitting .386 with seven homers and 27 RBIs at AT&T Park, the highest home average of any NL player.