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Diamondbacks-Marlins Preview

May 18, 2010 - 4:56 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Arizona (15-23) at Florida (20-18), 1:10 p.m. EDT

While winning their series opener against the Florida Marlins, the Arizona Diamondbacks showed signs that they might be emerging from their recent slump.

With the way Marlins starter Josh Johnson has pitched at Sun Life Stadium over the past couple of seasons, however, the Diamondbacks could find it more difficult to earn another victory Tuesday.

Johnson will try to earn his fourth straight home win and 14th in 17 decisions there in the finale of a two-game set with the Diamondbacks.

Arizona (16-23) snapped a seven-game slide with a 11-1 win in Atlanta on Saturday but were beaten 13-1 the following day. The Diamondbacks bounced back from that rout Monday night with a 5-1 victory over the Marlins.

After batting .204 during its losing streak, Arizona has at least 10 hits twice in the past three games. Justin Upton had two of those hits Monday and is 10 of 24 (.417) over his last six contests, boosting his average from .220 to .252.

Upton and the Diamondbacks, though, might have a more difficult time against Johnson (3-1, 3.06 ERA).

The right-hander, who has made six consecutive quality starts, is 3-0 with a 2.18 ERA at home this season. Since returning from right elbow surgery in July 2008, he's 13-3 with a 3.01 ERA in his last 27 starts there.

Johnson, however, suffered one of those losses to Arizona, giving up three runs and four hits over 6 1-3 innings in a 5-3 defeat last May 19. The right-hander is 2-1 with a 1.35 ERA in three lifetime starts against the Diamondbacks, who may be without slugger Mark Reynolds.

Reynolds - third in the NL with 10 homers - sat out Monday's win with flu-like symptoms, and his status is unknown for the series finale.

The Marlins could also be missing one of their best hitters after Hanley Ramirez was benched Monday for failing to hustle on a second-inning error. Ramirez, who had fouled a ball off his left shin in the opening frame, accidentally kicked Tony Abreu's single about 100 feet toward the left-field corner.

His loafing after the ball allowed two runners to score as Florida (20-19) saw an end to a season-high, four-game win streak.

When asked if he would be in the lineup Tuesday, manager Fredi Gonzalez responded, "We'll see."

"Whether he was hurt or not hurt or whatever it was, we felt that the effort wasn't there that we wanted," Gonzalez said.

The absence of the defending NL batting champ, who is hitting .295 with seven homers and 20 RBIs, could help Diamondbacks right-hander Billy Buckner in his season debut.

Buckner was 4-6 with a 6.40 ERA in 2009 for Arizona but lost out for the final spot in the rotation in spring training. Before sending him down to Triple-A Reno, the Diamondbacks asked the right-hander to use his curveball and throw his fastball inside more often.

Buckner, who has never faced the Marlins, was 3-1 with a 3.53 ERA in seven starts in Reno and replaces an ineffective Cesar Valdez in the rotation.

"We wanted him to go down and be a true pitch mix guy," manager A.J. Hinch told the Diamondbacks' official website. "We think he's ready for another opportunity."

With three straight wins in Florida, Arizona is on its longest win streak there since a six-game run from May 20, 1998-July 28, 2000.