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Marlins-Diamondbacks Preview

Jul 9, 2009 - 1:26 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Florida (43-42) at Arizona (35-49), 9:40 p.m. EDT

Hanley Ramirez is hoping the dry desert air will improve a sore hip before next week's All-Star game.

Ramirez and the Florida Marlins open a four-game series on Thursday night against the surging Arizona Diamondbacks, who are looking to extend their longest winning streak of the season to six games.

Ramirez is scheduled to start Tuesday's midseason classic in St. Louis, but he's missed the Marlins' last four contests because of a right hip flexor. The shortstop, who's hitting .346 with 14 homers and 60 RBIs, hopes to play in this contest, believing the heat might help him get loose. He told manager Fredi Gonzalez he was available as a defensive replacement Wednesday in San Francisco, but did not play in the 7-0 victory.

The Marlins (44-42) split the four games Ramirez has missed, avoiding a three-game sweep by the Giants with the rout. Chris Volstad pitched a five-hitter and Dan Uggla hit a three-run homer as Florida snapped a five-game road losing streak.

"It was one of those days everything just came together," Volstad said after his first career shutout.

Florida lost three of four at home against Arizona (36-49) in May, during which Ramirez batted .176 (3 for 17) with four strikeouts. Now, the Marlins will have to contend with a confident Diamondbacks team.

A 6-2 victory over San Diego on Wednesday gave Arizona (36-49) a sweep of the three-game series and moved them out of last place in the NL West. Max Scherzer gave up two runs in seven innings while Felipe Lopez hit a three-run homer during a five-run eighth inning.

"Looking at the standings every day, to not be in last place is big and a breath of fresh air," Arizona manager A.J. Hinch said. "Not to get too far ahead of ourselves, but to wake up tomorrow and be out of that is a nice feeling."

Arizona hasn't won six in a row since an eight-game run from April 4-12, 2008. The Diamondbacks have scored 31 runs during the current winning streak with rookie outfielder Gerardo Parra batting .600 (12 for 20).

Yusmeiro Petit (0-3, 8.46 ERA) will try to extend Arizona's recent success after struggling in his first start in nearly two months his last time out.

Petit lasted three innings against Colorado on Saturday, giving up four runs and five hits in the 11-7 win. It was his first start since May 8 and was the first time in six outings the Diamondbacks had won one of his starts.

Petit faced the Marlins for the first time on Aug. 23, and gave up one run and two hits over six innings of a 7-1 victory. The right-hander was 1-1 with a 9.57 ERA in 15 games as a rookie with Florida in 2006.

Arizona has won five of its last seven home games against Florida, which sends Andrew Miller (3-4, 4.42) to the mound.

The left-hander recorded his first win since June 6 on Saturday, giving up three runs and eight hits in 6 2-3 innings of a 5-3 victory over Pittsburgh.

Miller is 1-1 with a 2.29 ERA in three career starts against the Diamondbacks. He pitched seven innings against them on May 21, allowing two runs and four hits over seven innings with nine strikeouts, but didn't factor in the 4-3 loss.

Lopez is batting .318 (14 for 44) in his last 12 games, and is 4 for 8 against Miller.