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Marlins-Diamondbacks Preview

Jul 11, 2010 - 5:06 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Florida (41-45) at Arizona (33-54), 4:10 p.m. EDT

The Florida Marlins and Arizona Diamondbacks are playing right before the All-Star break against each other for the second straight season. They both must wish it was still 2009.

The only NL teams to fire their managers this season complete a four-game series at Chase Field on Sunday, with both hoping for better days ahead.

Expectations have not been met for Arizona (34-54) and Florida (41-46) this season. The Diamondbacks fired manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Josh Byrnes on July 1 while the Marlins fired manager Fredi Gonzalez on June 23.

These clubs split a four-game set last season in Arizona before the All-Star break. That left the Marlins at 46-44 and the Diamondbacks at 38-51, and both would gladly take those records this year.

The Diamondbacks have taken two of three to begin this series, winning 5-4 on Saturday. Mark Reynolds hit his 20th homer and Chris Snyder added a two-run shot in the sixth inning that gave Arizona a 5-2 advantage.

Arizona was hoping for big seasons from Reynolds and Justin Upton, who are first and second in the majors, respectively, with 119 and 111 strikeouts. Reynolds is batting a career-low .214 while Upton - a .300 hitter last year - is at .256 and mired in a 7-for-44 slump.

While the Diamondbacks have struck out 809 times to lead the majors, the Marlins are second with 693. Florida's struggles caused the club to call up heralded prospect Mike Stanton, who has struck out 44 times in 106 at-bat in his first 27 games.

Stanton homered for the third time in five games in Saturday's loss, and Hanley Ramirez broke out of a 5-for-27 slump with three hits.

"I haven't really changed anything mentally since I got here," Stanton told the Marlins' official website. "I just relax a little bit, and slow everything down. That's all I can do."

Arizona first baseman Adam LaRoche sat out Saturday with a stiff back, and is 9 for 26 during a seven-game hitting streak.

These teams will both start rookie right-handers, with Arizona's Barry Enright (1-1, 3.38 ERA) making his third career start and Florida's Alex Sanabia (0-1, 4.32) getting his first.

Enright won his debut June 30 by allowing two runs over five innings in a 4-2 victory at St. Louis. His first outing at home was less successful as he gave up three runs over 5 2-3 innings in Tuesday's 6-4 loss to the Chicago Cubs.

A second-round draft pick in 2007, Enright was 4-1 with a 2.88 ERA in 14 starts at Double-A Mobile this season.

Sanabia is taking the place of Chris Volstad, who has one win since May 7 and was demoted to Triple-A New Orleans on Tuesday. In three relief appearances, Sanabia has allowed five runs over 8 1-3 innings.

The 21-year-old Sanabia's contract was purchased June 22 from Double-A Jacksonville, where he was 5-1 with a 2.03 ERA in 14 starts.