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Padres-Marlins Preview

Aug 29, 2009 - 5:27 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

San Diego (54-75) at Florida (67-60), 6:10 p.m. EDT

Although the San Diego Padres are well out of the playoff picture, they haven't been making things easy for teams in the NL wild-card hunt.

The Florida Marlins try to bounce back from a disappointing loss Saturday when they host the Padres, who seek their fourth win in five games.

The Marlins (67-61) entered this series against San Diego (55-75) hoping to build some momentum before a key four-game set against Atlanta begins Monday, but they dropped Friday's opener 9-5.

Florida has lost six of nine and is tied with the Braves in the standings, 4 1/2 games back of wild card-leading Colorado.

Pitching is becoming a problem for the Marlins, who have allowed 19 runs and 33 hits in their last two games. Friday's starter Chris Volstad recorded only five outs, as San Diego scored six runs while sending 12 batters to the plate in the second inning. Volstad was sent to Triple-A New Orleans after the game.

The Marlins aren't the first playoff hopefuls to get knocked around by the weak-hitting Padres.

San Diego, last in the majors in runs scored (503), arrived in Florida after winning two of three in Atlanta. The Padres had 16 hits Friday after pounding out 18 in Wednesday's 12-5 win over the Braves.

"Usually when someone is hitting, everyone is hitting," said San Diego's Kyle Blanks, who left Friday's game in the second inning with a sore right foot after hitting a two-run homer. "We've been doing that a lot lately. I think we're as good as anybody when we're hitting."

The Padres look to keep it going against Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco (9-8, 5.31 ERA), who tries to bounce back from a shaky outing.

After throwing a three-hitter in a 6-2 win over Houston on Aug. 18, Nolasco gave up four runs, nine hits and three walks in 4 1-3 innings of Sunday's 7-5 loss to Atlanta, though he didn't receive a decision. He fell in an early hole, walking two of the first three batters before surrendering a three-run homer to Braves catcher Brian McCann.

The right-hander has been prone to coughing up runs early, getting knocked around for 10 first-inning runs over his last three starts.

Nolasco had no trouble in his only start of the season against the Padres on July 22, allowing two hits and striking out 10 in 6 1-3 innings of a 5-0 win.

San Diego counters with Wade LeBlanc (0-1, 14.54), who is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Portland to take the rotation spot of the recently demoted Cesar Carrillo.

LeBlanc has departed early in both of his major league starts this season. He hasn't pitched for the Padres since giving up four runs, five hits and three walks in 1 1-3 innings of a 9-3 loss to Seattle on June 25. Six days prior to that, the left-hander gave up three runs in three innings against Oakland.

Though LeBlanc struggled with San Diego in June, he has pitched well in the minors. He allowed one run with 12 strikeouts in 13 innings over his last two starts for the Beavers, and was named the PCL pitcher of the week Monday.

LeBlanc, who appeared in five games as a September callup last season for the Padres, will be making his first career start against the Marlins.