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Marlins-Pirates Preview

Aug 19, 2010 - 3:17 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Florida (58-60) at Pittsburgh (40-79), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Florida Marlins would love to close their 10-game road trip the same way they opened it - with a third straight victory.

Consecutive wins over the Pittsburgh Pirates have given them a chance, and they'll try to wrap up just their second series victory at PNC Park in nine years Thursday night.

Florida (59-60) swept Washington in the nation's capital from Aug. 10-12 - giving it four straight wins overall - before ending up on the other end of a sweep in Cincinnati.

The slide extended to four with a 7-1 loss Monday at Pittsburgh, but the Marlins have made a bid to end the trip on a high note. Ricky Nolasco pitched six strong innings in a 6-0 win Tuesday and Josh Johnson snapped his five-start winless streak by going eight innings in Wednesday's 3-2 victory.

"It has felt like a while," Johnson said. "But this was a good team win, with good clutch hitting."

Florida has never won three in a row at PNC Park, and it's only won one road series against the Pirates (40-80) since 2002.

It'll try to end that drought Thursday against Paul Maholm (7-11, 4.86 ERA), and should have a good chance. The Marlins are hitting .323 against left-handers since July 23 while winning six of the seven times a southpaw has started against them.

A pair of rookies have led the way. Left fielder Logan Morrison is 6 for 17 (.353) with three RBIs and three walks versus lefties in that stretch, while right fielder Mike Stanton is 6 for 19 (.316) with a homer, four doubles and six RBIs.

Maholm lost for the fourth time in five starts Saturday at Houston, but delivered his best outing of the bunch. Maholm had a 9.90 ERA in his previous four starts before holding Houston to three runs over 6 2-3 innings in a 3-2 loss.

"Paul did a really good job. He deserved better," manager John Russell said. "It's getting to be old. Our pitchers are pitching well, but we can't get any runs for them."

Maholm is 3-3 with a 4.66 ERA in six starts against Florida, and he's been hurt by the long ball. He's given up seven homers in 36 2-3 innings, with Hanley Ramirez (6 for 16) and Dan Uggla (3 for 16) each hitting two.

Sean West was scheduled to start Thursday's finale, but the left-hander - 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA - is headed to the disabled list with right knee inflammation.

Rookie Alex Sanabia (1-1, 4.63) will be called up from Triple-A New Orleans to replace him and make his fifth start. The first three went well - he allowed one run in 13 innings - but his fourth was miserable. Sanabia gave up seven runs and nine hits over two innings in a 10-9, 10-inning loss at San Francisco on July 28.

"The more we expose him out there, the more reports there are on him," manager Edwin Rodriguez told the Marlins' official website in late July. "I think he has to work on that third pitch. He has the fastball. He has a very good changeup. He has to work more on his slider to keep everyone honest."

Sanabia was 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in two starts with the Zephyrs.