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Marlins-Phillies Preview

Sep 6, 2010 - 2:03 PM By NOEY KUPCHAN STATS Writer

Florida (69-66) at Philadelphia (78-59), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Philadelphia Phillies haven't been alone atop the NL East in more than three months. They could end up back in that position Monday as they host the Florida Marlins for a day-night doubleheader.

Philadelphia (78-59) has won eight of 10 to get within one game of Atlanta for the division lead. If the Braves lose at Pittsburgh on Monday afternoon, the Phillies will own sole possession of first place for the first time since May 30 if they sweep this twinbill.

Their recent success is due in part to the resurgence of slugger Ryan Howard, who was in a 2-for-28 slump before hitting three homers and driving in six runs over the last six games.

Howard's bat has generally been known to heat up in September, as he has a .306 average with 51 homers - the most of any month in his career.

"There's the saying the season is a marathon," Howard told the Phillies' official website. "You want to try to be strong at the end of the race, and kick it in during the home stretch."

That's exactly what Roy Oswalt (10-13, 3.01 ERA) has been doing for the Phillies. He'll start the nightcap looking for his fifth straight win.

Oswalt is 4-1 with a 1.89 ERA since being acquired from Houston just before the trade deadline, and he's given up one run over his past 21 1-3 innings. He allowed one hit in 6 1-3 scoreless innings and struck out six in a 5-1 win over Los Angeles on Wednesday.

"He's been a lights-out pitcher - especially in the second half - as his career has shown," Jimmy Rollins said after Oswalt's last outing. "He's very consistent in that regard. When August and September comes around, the man just dominates. And that's what we need - pitchers like that who want to pitch in big games. And we have him."

The three-time All Star is 5-4 with a 3.66 ERA versus the Marlins (69-66), but he's 0-2 with an 8.86 ERA in four outings against them since a win Aug. 3, 2007. Hanley Ramirez is 10 for 25 with two homers against Oswalt and enters this matchup on a tear, batting .481 in his last 15 games.

Anibal Sanchez (11-8, 3.14) is scheduled to oppose Oswalt. He allowed three hits over seven scoreless innings for the second time in three starts Tuesday, throwing a career-high 126 pitches with one walk and seven strikeouts in a 1-0, 10-inning victory.

Sanchez has struggled against the Phillies, posting a 3-6 record with a 5.20 ERA in 10 outings. His last start against Philadelphia came Aug. 4, when he allowed four runs and seven hits in 4 1-3 innings in a 7-2 loss.

Howard didn't even play in that game, and he's 6 for 18 with two homers, two doubles and seven walks versus Sanchez.

The first game of the doubleheader matches two pitchers making their first major league starts in Philadelphia's Vance Worley and Florida's Adalberto Mendez.

Worley (0-0, 0.00) made his only appearance in the majors July 24, striking out two in a perfect inning of relief in a 10-2 win over Colorado. The rookie right-hander was 10-7 with a 3.38 ERA in 26 starts between Triple A-Lehigh Valley and Double-A Reading this season.

Mendez has never pitched in the big leagues. He was 5-4 with a 4.14 ERA in 28 games at Triple-A New Orleans this year.

The Marlins have won three of five games at Citizens Bank Park this year and are 15-8 there over the last three seasons.