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Marlins-Diamondbacks Preview

Jul 11, 2009 - 6:00 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Florida (45-42) at Arizona (36-50), 8:10 p.m. EDT

The Arizona Diamondbacks seem to have responded positively to third baseman Mark Reynolds' rant concerning the team's effort late last week, and they are hitting as well as they have all season.

Jon Garland would especially appreciate it if that trend continues.

Garland has shown signs of ending his struggles, but he'll still be searching for his first win in nearly two months Saturday night as the Diamondbacks face the visiting Florida Marlins - the last team he beat.

Garland (4-8, 4.80 ERA) hasn't had much success in his first season in the NL, but after going 4-4 with a 5.75 ERA in April and May, has pitched better since the beginning of June.

The problem for Garland is that Arizona (37-50) hasn't offered him much help at the plate. The right-hander posted a 3.60 ERA over his past seven starts, but went 0-4 after receiving 2.45 runs of support per game.

Garland was solid again in his last outing, allowing three runs and eight hits over six innings of a 6-5 victory over San Diego on Monday. The Diamondbacks had lost his past eight starts.

He gave up one run in six innings five days earlier in a 1-0 loss at Cincinnati.

"I think I've gone out and given the team a pretty good chance to win," Garland told the Diamondbacks' official Web site after that defeat. "If I keep throwing the ball the way I have (recently), it will turn around."

Garland's last win came at Land Shark Stadium on May 19, when he gave up two runs - one earned - over six innings of a 5-3 win over Florida (45-43).

The right-hander has a 2.47 ERA in eight road starts, but a 7.15 ERA in nine outings at home.

Since Reynolds' tirade after Arizona was shut out in Colorado on July 3 - the team's eighth loss in nine games - the Diamondbacks have averaged 6.6 runs in winning six of seven.

On Friday, Arizona got six extra-base hits and Dan Haren's complete game in an 8-0 victory over the Marlins. The win came 24 hours after the Diamondbacks blew a 7-0 lead and lost 14-7 to Florida.

"What a performance," manager A.J. Hinch said. "Obviously, a good offensive night for us, too. Really, just what we needed after getting hit in the mouth a little bit last night. It was a great rebound game for us."

The Marlins didn't score Friday, but they did get All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez back in the starting lineup for the first time in five games. Ramirez, battling a right hip flexor, went 1 for 4 with an infield single in his return.

Rookie Sean West (3-3, 4.47) will face the Diamondbacks for the first time as he looks to bounce back from a pair of ineffective starts. He gave up five runs over 4 1-3 innings of Arizona's 7-5 defeat to Washington on June 30, then allowed five runs in six innings of a 5-4 loss at San Francisco on Monday.

"I threw some fastballs, left them up and they hurt me," West told the Marlins' official Web site. "... I can't throw it by guys in the big leagues. That's what I get myself into sometimes."