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Marlins-Astros Preview

Aug 19, 2009 - 5:27 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Florida (63-55) at Houston (57-61), 8:05 p.m. EDT

The Florida Marlins are enjoying their best stretch at the plate in franchise history. That offensive surge has also put them in the thick of the playoff race.

The Marlins look to continue their torrid hitting and win for the 10th time in 12 games Wednesday night when they face the struggling Houston Astros in the middle game of this series at Minute Maid Park.

Florida (64-55) is two games behind wild card-leading Colorado and one game in back of San Francisco.

The Marlins' surprising inclusion in the playoff race has been spurred by a terrific stretch at the plate, as they've collected at least 10 hits in a team-record 14 consecutive games, shattering the franchise record of six games set Aug. 13-19, 2000.

During those 14 contests, Florida is batting .331 with 18 homers. The Marlins started their record-setting run with three straight losses before winning nine of their next 11.

Florida collected 11 hits, including three homers, Tuesday in a 6-2 win over Houston (57-62) but all that offense wasn't needed as Ricky Nolasco threw a three-hitter with 10 strikeouts.

"We got the pitching we needed to get," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "I'm happier with that than I am with the 10 hits."

Hanley Ramirez has been a major offensive contributor, putting together a 13-game hitting streak that has seen him hit .469 with two homers and 13 RBIs. He had three hits for the fifth time in that span Tuesday. The All-Star shortstop leads the league with a .359 average, an increase of 19 points since the start of his streak.

He's hitting .439 with eight homers and 22 RBIs in 22 games against the Astros.

Rookie Sean West (4-4, 4.57 ERA) will take the mound seeking a second consecutive victory over Houston.

The 23-year-old left-hander held the Astros to one run and five hits in six innings of Thursday's 9-2 win. That came after he was pulled following the fourth inning of a 6-4 win at Philadelphia on Aug. 8, when he allowed three runs and seven hits, hours after being recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville.

"I wanted to try to get seven in, just to keep the bullpen a little relaxed tonight," West told the Marlins' official Web site following Thursday's victory. "The last time I went four, and those guys really picked me up. So I wanted to kind of pick them up tonight."

West is 1-2 with a 5.60 ERA in five road starts.

The Astros, losers of six of eight, will give the ball to Yorman Bazardo (0-0, 5.06) in a spot start after placing Mike Hampton on the 15-day disabled list with a left shoulder strain.

Bazardo has made only two starts since making one relief appearance as a rookie with Florida in 2005. The right-hander's last start came for Detroit in a win over Minnesota on Sept. 25, 2007.

He's appeared out of the bullpen in three games this season, allowing five runs - three earned - and three hits with four walks in 5 1-3 innings. He tossed 2 1-3 perfect innings Thursday at Florida.