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Marlins-Phillies Preview

Apr 18, 2010 - 3:47 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Florida (6-5) at Philadelphia (8-2), 1:35 p.m. EDT

Cole Hamels is winning, but efficiency is becoming an issue. He hasn't enjoyed much of either against the Florida Marlins.

Hamels looks to win a third consecutive start by beating the Marlins for the first time in more than three years when the NL East rivals conclude a three-game series Sunday.

Hamels (2-0, 5.06 ERA) has labored through his first two starts of 2010, both against Washington - the team with the worst record in baseball in each of the last two seasons. The left-hander failed to complete the sixth inning again Monday, exiting with two outs after giving up four runs and six hits while throwing 109 pitches in a 7-4 home win over the Nationals.

"Unfortunately I wasn't able to go as deep as I would like," Hamels told the team's official website. "Minimizing damage is the key. It's something I need to work on."

Hamels is trying to regain the form that earned him MVP honors in the 2008 NL championship series and World Series, as he helped the Phillies (8-3) to their second title. Last season, he was 10-11 with a 4.32 ERA in the regular season before posting a 1-2 record and 7.58 ERA in four playoff games as Philadelphia lost to the New York Yankees in the World Series.

Getting his first win over the Marlins (7-5) since Sept. 22, 2006, could help. Hamels is 0-5 with a 4.97 ERA in nine starts against them since, including a 7.08 ERA during a four-game losing streak at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies could use a better effort from Hamels after falling 5-1 on Saturday. Jamie Moyer, the 47-year-old left-hander, gave up all the runs in the opening inning while the Marlins' Ricky Nolasco threw a five-hitter.

Philadelphia, which was held to season lows in runs and hits, will try to re-establish its strong production at the plate. The team has a .304 batting average while scoring 7.1 runs per game.

Chase Utley has been a big reason for the strong start, hitting .366 with six homers and 12 RBIs while reaching base in all 11 games. However, the second baseman saw his streak of four consecutive games with a homer end Saturday.

Utley owns a .354 average with 13 homers and 45 RBIs in 51 home meetings with the Marlins.

Nate Robertson (1-0, 3.60) will try to draw some inspiration from Nolasco as he gets his first start against the Phillies.

The left-hander was shaky in Tuesday's 10-8, 11-inning loss to Cincinnati. He gave up six runs - three earned - and five hits before exiting after the fifth inning.

Robertson's performance wasn't nearly as effective as his season debut five days earlier when he yielded one run and six hits in five innings of a 3-1 road win over the New York Mets.

Jorge Cantu will try to extend his career-high hitting streak to 17 games. The third baseman is hitting .317 with three homers and 22 RBIs during that stretch after getting an RBI single Saturday.

He's 6 for 21 with three homers off Hamels.