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Nolasco, Dempster square off in Florida

May 18, 2011 - 2:23 PM (Sports Network) - Right-hander Ricky Nolasco can continue a so-far successful 2011 on home turf tonight when the Florida Marlins host the Chicago Cubs in the first half of a two-game midweek series at Sun Life Stadium.

Nolasco, a 28-year-old Californian originally drafted by the Cubs in 2001, has made five starts in the friendly south Florida confines this spring and has allowed just nine runs on 29 hits in 33 2/3 innings while compiling a win and four no-decisions.

His premier outing of the season came April 20 in Miami, where, against visiting Pittsburgh, he twirled seven innings of scoreless four-hit ball en route to a 4-0 defeat that upped his record to 2-0.

Win No. 3 of the season came May 1 at Cincinnati and has since been followed by a pair of no-decisions - both Florida losses - in which he's allowed 11 hits and four runs in 13 1/3 innings.

Nolasco, who reached the majors with the Marlins in 2006, is 3-1 lifetime against Chicago with a 2.48 earned run average in 29 innings.

He'll be opposed by longtime ex-Marlin Ryan Dempster, who broke in with Florida in 1998 and pitched with the team through 2002. The 34-year-old native of British Columbia moved on to a brief stint in Cincinnati before landing with the Cubs as a relief pitcher in 2003.

Dempster saved a career-high 33 games for Chicago in 2005 before becoming a starter in 2008 and recording 17, 11 and 15 wins in three full-time seasons in the rotation.

Dempster struggled to a 9.58 ERA through his initial six appearances this season, but has gone 1-1 over the last three starts while allowing just five runs in 20 innings.

He's 3-1 with three saves in 14 career meetings with the Marlins.

On Tuesday in Cincinnati, Chris Heisey's pinch-hit sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth proved the difference as the Reds held on for a 7-5 win over the Cubs to complete a two-game sweep at Great American Ball Park.

Carlos Pena hit a three-run homer for the Cubs, who have dropped three in a row and six of eight. Tony Campana had an RBI double in his first major league at-bat.

Cubs starter Matt Garza went six frames and gave up three unearned runs on five hits and four walks. The right-hander had three strikeouts.

Tuesday's game between the Marlins and New York Mets, meanwhile was postponed by rain. Florida won Monday's matchup, 2-1, in the 11th inning thanks to an RBI single in the top of the frame by reliever Burke Badenhop.

Chicago won four of six from the Marlins last season.