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Marlins-Diamondbacks Preview

Jul 10, 2009 - 6:44 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Florida (45-42) at Arizona (36-50), 9:40 p.m. EDT

The Florida Marlins' lineup took a while to get going in their series opener in Arizona, but capped a stunning come-from-behind win with a record-setting inning.

Success at the plate Friday night should be considerably more difficult with Dan Haren on the mound.

The Diamondbacks will try to bounce back from a late-inning collapse by handing the ball to the dominant Haren, while the visiting Marlins will be looking for a fifth consecutive win from red-hot Ricky Nolasco.

It looked like Florida (45-42) was on its way to a lopsided loss in its series opener at Chase Field on Thursday, but turned into a one-sided victory. The Marlins sent 14 batters to the plate while scoring a franchise-record 10 runs in the eighth inning, helping turn an early 7-0 deficit into a 14-7 win.

"I didn't sense any panic," said Brett Carroll, whose pinch-hit three-run homer gave Florida an 8-7 lead. "I think guys were staying ready, and we started to get a couple knocks."

The Marlins could have difficulty sustaining the momentum of their comeback against Haren (8-5, 2.16 ERA), who owns the lowest ERA of any NL starter and lowest opponent batting average (.194) of any pitcher in the majors.

Haren has allowed two earned runs or fewer in his last eight starts. He surrendered three runs - one earned - over six innings at Colorado in a 4-3 win Sunday, the same day he was named to his third consecutive NL All-Star team.

"He's doing a lot right. I don't know too many pitchers that have done better," Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch told the team's official Web site. "I'll take Dan Haren as a starter in the All-Star Game based on what he's doing in every aspect of pitching."

Arizona (36-50), though, is just 10-7 when Haren takes the hill, including 4-4 at home despite the right-hander delivering a quality start each time.

Haren also has never beaten Florida, going 0-2 with a 4.19 ERA in three career starts. All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez has a double and triple in six career at-bats against Haren, though Ramirez remains day-to-day with a right hip flexor.

He missed a fifth straight start Thursday, but singled and walked as a pinch-hitter in the wild eighth inning.

The Diamondbacks, meanwhile, could have their hands full with Nolasco (6-6, 5.42), who is 4-0 with a 2.12 in his career against Arizona.

If Nolasco's first two months were anything like his recent outings, he'd likely be joining Haren in St. Louis for Tuesday's midseason classic. The right-hander was 2-5 with a 9.07 ERA in his first nine starts, earning a trip to the minor leagues. He's 4-1 with a 1.54 ERA in six starts since being recalled, however, and has a 0.96 ERA in winning his past four outings.

Nolasco gave up three hits over eight innings Sunday against Pittsburgh, striking out a season-high 12 in a 5-0 victory.

"The slider today was really sharp," Nolasco told the Marlins' official Web site. "I think most of (the strikeouts) were on sliders that they swung over the top of. I just tried to get ahead of guys, and if I did get two strikes, I threw the sliders and they were swinging over the top of them."

Nolasco has 30 strikeouts in 29 2-3 innings in his four career starts against Arizona, though he has allowed four home runs. Shortstop Stephen Drew has hit three of them and is 6 for 13 (.462) against Nolasco.