• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Phillies-Marlins Preview

Jul 19, 2009 - 4:46 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Philadelphia (50-38) at Florida (46-46), 1:10 p.m. EDT

Thanks to Mother Nature, the Philadelphia Phillies get another crack at their longest winning streak in more than three years.

The Phillies seek their eighth straight victory as they meet the Florida Marlins on Sunday in the finale of a rain-shortened four-game series.

Philadelphia trailed 2-0 in the second inning Saturday night before a 90-minute rain delay that led to the eventual postponement. No make-up date has been announced, but the Phillies will visit the Marlins for the final time this season in late September.

Philadelphia (50-38) has won seven straight in Florida. It hasn't taken eight in a row overall since a nine-game run from April 30-May 9, 2006.

To extend those streaks, the NL East leaders will look to help keep J.A. Happ's unbeaten one going.

Happ (6-0, 2.90 ERA) earned his seventh straight winning decision by allowing one run and four hits over seven innings in a 5-2 victory over visiting Pittsburgh last Sunday.

The left-hander is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in his last four outings, and 4-0 with a 3.03 ERA in 10 starts since moving into the rotation on May 23.

"What more can you ask for?" Philadelphia pitching coach Rich Dubee told his team's official Web site. "He's getting us deep into games. He doesn't rattle."

Happ has never started against the Marlins, but has no record and 9.82 ERA in three career relief appearances against them.

He'll try to benefit from a lineup that's outscored opponents 76-32 over the last 12 contests and beaten Florida by a combined 10-5 in the series' first two games.

To avoid losing three straight for only the second time since May 23, the Marlins (46-46) will turn to inconsistent Andrew Miller (3-4, 4.50).

After earning a win July 4 against the Pirates, the left-hander had his shortest outing of the season, lasting only 2 2-3 innings in the Marlins' historic 14-7 comeback victory over Arizona. Miller allowed six runs but only two were earned.

Florida crawled out of the early hole with a franchise-record 10 runs in the eighth inning.

"Obviously my last start wasn't very good," Miller told the team's official Web site. "There's still plenty of room to improve and plenty to take from the last game and learn from."

Miller dropped to 0-2 in four career starts against the Phillies on May 26 by allowing four runs over six innings of a 5-3 road defeat.

"We know they have great hitters up and down the lineup," Miller said. "It's not going to be easy, but you go out and battle with each hitter, and hopefully, the outcome is in your favor."

Miller gave up one run over seven innings but did not factor in his only home start versus Philadelphia on June 11, 2008.