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Marlins send Vazquez to hill vs. Rockies

Apr 23, 2011 - 3:15 PM (Sports Network) - Javier Vazquez will try to beat the Rockies for a fourth straight time and follow the brilliant pitching performance of Anibal Sanchez as the Marlins host Colorado tonight at Sun Life Stadium.

Vazquez is 4-2 with a 3.77 ERA in eight career starts against the Rockies, but the veteran right-hander has sparkled recently against Colorado. He also owns a lifetime 3-0 record and 1.44 ERA in four home starts vs. the Rockies.

Most recently, Vazquez pitched five innings and didn't get a decision in an April 15 start at Philadelphia. His lone win came April 9 at Houston.

Sanchez pitched incredible ball on Friday, carrying a no-hitter into the ninth inning as the Marlins grabbed the opener of this three-game set, 4-1.

Dexter Fowler broke up Sanchez's bid for his second career no-hitter with a broken-bat single through the right side to begin the ninth. Fowler was then quickly doubled off at first base after left fielder Scott Cousins made a diving catch on a ball hit by Jonathan Herrera. Carlos Gonzalez grounded out to end the game.

Sanchez (1-1) tossed the fourth no-hitter in Marlins history on September 6, 2006 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was bidding to become the first pitcher in the club's annals to throw a second one, but instead settled for the one-hit gem.

"Everything was working today," Sanchez said. "I saw my velocity, I trusted more in my fastball. I know I'm throwing harder than last year and I feel it now."

The 27-year-old Venezuela native gave up an unearned run in the first and issued three walks while recording a career-high nine strikeouts in his fourth career complete game.

"He had all of his secondary pitches going," Marlins catcher John Buck said. "He was locating his fastball and seemed to have more on his fastball tonight too. He was just executing every pitch that I asked him to do. It was pretty impressive."

Chris Coghlan and Gaby Sanchez both homered for Florida, which notched its season-high fourth straight win. The Marlins were coming off a three-game sweep of Pittsburgh in which they outscored the Pirates, 21-5. Florida has now won seven of eight overall.

Jhoulys Chacin (3-1) surrendered four runs on seven hits and walked three in five innings for the Rockies, who fell to 7-2 on the road this season.

Taking the mound for the Rockies tonight will be Jason Hammel, who is coming off his first defeat of the season. The righty gave up seven hits and three runs over six innings in a loss to the Cubs a week ago. He's 0-3 with a 7.79 ERA in five games (3 starts) against the Marlins.

Florida won three of four over Colorado at home last season.