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Aug 14, 2009 - 3:55 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Colorado (63-51) at Florida (60-54), 7:10 p.m. EDT

A key three-game set between the Florida Marlins and Colorado Rockies could make a major impact on the NL wild-card race.

The Marlins hope their scorching lineup and ace Josh Johnson can give them an advantage in the series opener with the wild-card leading Rockies on Friday night.

Florida (61-54) is second in the NL East, 4 1/2 games behind first-place Philadelphia. The Marlins are also three games back of Colorado (64-51) for the wild card, while San Francisco is between both clubs at 1 1/2 back.

"We're within a few games of Philly, and every game is important come this point in the season," Marlins starter Sean West said. "I was talking to our starters, we've got a great group of guys. I think we can carry the team all the way. And our hitting is bar none."

The Marlins have collected at least 10 hits in a club-record 10 games in a row. They connected for 11, including two homers in Thursday's 9-2 win over Houston to take three of four after sweeping a three-game road set from the Phillies last weekend.

Johnson (11-2, 2.92 ERA) has also played a key role in Florida's success, leading the club in wins, ERA, innings (154) and strikeouts (129). His last six starts at Land Shark Stadium have resulted in wins, as he's gone 3-0 with a 3.08 ERA.

The All-Star right-hander is one win shy of matching his career high set in 2006. He's moved closer to that mark courtesy of a 4-0 record and 3.31 ERA in his last five starts.

Johnson was impressive again Sunday, yielding one run with six strikeouts in six innings of a 12-3 win at Philadelphia.

He's 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA in two starts against the Rockies, beating them May 9 by allowing one run in eight innings of a 3-1 victory as the Marlins took the first two games of that series before falling 3-2 a day later.

The Marlins, though, haven't fared well at home against the Rockies, losing eight of 11.

Hanley Ramirez, the NL batting leader at .353, has hit .194 with one homer and three RBIs in 10 home games against Colorado. However, the shortstop is entering this series with a .457 average, one homer and 12 RBIs in the last nine games overall.

The Rockies, who are also five games behind NL West-leading Los Angeles, are looking to win for the fifth time in six games after beating Pittsburgh 10-1 to take the last two games of that three-game set.

"Hopefully this continues and keep playing into October," second baseman Clint Barmes said. "That's the No. 1 goal."

Barnes has collected six hits with a homer and five RBIs in the last two games, while shortstop Troy Tulowitzki is batting .529 with three homers and nine RBIs over the last four.

Tulowitzki went 6 for 11 and connected for two homers while driving in four runs in the last series with Florida.

Jason Hammel (7-6, 4.66) will take the mound trying for a personal three-game winning streak.

The right-hander allowed three runs and a career-high 11 hits in five innings of an 11-5 win over Chicago on Sunday. That performance came five days after he surrendered three runs and nine hits before getting pulled with two outs in the seventh during an 8-3 win at Philadelphia. He'd been 0-3 with a 5.76 ERA in six prior outings.

He lost his only start against Florida on May 8, yielding six runs and eight hits - including homers to Hanley Ramirez and John Baker - in 4 1-3 innings of an 8-3 defeat.