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Marlins-Cubs Preview

May 9, 2010 - 10:52 PM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Florida (14-16) at Chicago (14-17), 8:05 p.m. EDT

After appearing to solve their offense woes last week, the Chicago Cubs return home from a disappointing road trip with more questions surrounding their inconsistent lineup.

The Cubs try to end their funk and avoid losing for the sixth time in seven games Monday night when they face a Florida Marlins team that is also scuffling.

Chicago (14-18) scored 28 runs in winning three straight over Arizona last weekend at Wrigley Field. That got the Cubs back to .500, but they were unable to carry that momentum to Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.

Chicago dropped five of six on the trip with the offense struggling again in the defeats.

The Cubs beat the Reds 14-7 on Friday, but managed 10 runs in the other five games. Derrek Lee and Kosuke Fukudome were among the Cubs who failed to deliver at the plate, with the first baseman batting .167 on the trip and right fielder going 3 for 15.

"Things aren't pretty right now," said right-hander Ryan Dempster, who took the loss in a 5-3 defeat to Cincinnati on Sunday.

Florida (14-17) has been experiencing similar offensive problems. The Marlins scored 16 runs in winning their first two games this month, but have averaged 3.5 runs in dropping five of six since.

Reigning NL batting champ Hanley Ramirez hit a solo homer in Sunday's 3-2 loss to Washington but did little else the past week, going 3 for 16 in his last five games.

"Our offense is in a little rut right now," right fielder Cody Ross said. "We're in an offensive slump, that's what it boils down to. Every day it seems like it's lose, lose, lose, come back and tie it up, and end up losing. It's not a whole lot of fun."

The Marlins hope to get things turned around when they face Ted Lilly (1-2, 5.29 ERA), who is looking to bounce back from another rough outing.

After opening the year on the disabled list while recovering from left shoulder surgery, Lilly limited Milwaukee to three hits in six shutout innings of a 5-1 win April 24. He has been unable to build on that success, recording an 8.18 ERA in losing his last two.

Lilly gave up four runs and nine hits in six innings of a 4-2 defeat to Pittsburgh on Wednesday.

"Mechanically, there are some things I can fine-tune and continue to get better," the left-hander told the Cubs' official website.

Lilly was sharp against the Marlins on May 2 of last season, allowing one run and striking out 10 in eight innings of a 6-1 victory. He had recorded a 5.56 ERA in losing his four previous starts to Florida.

The Marlins will counter with Nate Robertson (2-3, 4.85), who is trying to avoid losing four consecutive starts for the first time in nearly five years.

Robertson went 2-0 with a 2.20 ERA in his first three outings, but posted an 8.10 ERA in his last three. The left-hander didn't pitch badly Wednesday against San Francisco, yielding three runs, six hits and a walk in 5 1-3 innings of a 3-2 defeat.

Robertson hasn't lost four straight starts since dropping five in a row from Aug. 28-Sept. 20, 2005, while with Detroit.

In his only start against the Cubs on June 16, 2006, Robertson allowed two runs in seven innings of a 5-3 Tigers win.

Chicago went 4-3 against Florida last season.