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Cubs shoot for sweep in Miami

May 19, 2011 - 2:36 PM (Sports Network) - Right-hander Casey Coleman tries to pitch the Chicago Cubs to a second straight win this evening when they wrap up a brief two-game set against the Florida Marlins at Sun Life Stadium.

The Cubs drew first blood in the series with a win on Wednesday, as Marlon Byrd's leadoff home run in the eighth led to a 7-5 triumph. Reed Johnson added a pinch-hit, two-run home run while Koyie Hill was 3-for-3 with three runs scored for the Cubs, who snapped a three-game slide.

Ryan Dempster lasted just five innings in the start and was charged with five runs on eight hits. Jeff Samardzija (3-0) worked two scoreless innings for the win.

Hanley Ramirez hit a solo home run and scored twice while Greg Dobbs belted a two-run double for the Marlins, who have dropped two of three.

Ricky Nolasco was tagged for five runs -- four earned -- on nine hits over six innings while Edward Mujica (4-2) got the loss.

Coleman, who'll turn 24 on July 3, was born in Fort Myers, Fla. and played college ball at Florida Gulf Coast University before his 15th-round selection by the Cubs in the 2008 draft. He reached the majors last season and was 4-2 over 12 appearances, including a win over the Marlins in which he allowed three runs on five hits with five strikeouts in six innings.

Coleman opened 2011 with a victory at Colorado in his second start, but has dropped three decisions in four outings since, including a 9-1 verdict to St. Louis on May 12 in which he was touched for nine hits and six runs in just 4 1/3 innings.

The Marlins go with another Florida native - 24-year-old right-hander Chris Volstad - who'll look for a first career win over the Cubs in his sixth start.

The Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. product is 0-1 in the previous meetings with a 3.41 earned run average and 24 strikeouts against Chicago batters across 31 2/3 innings.

He dropped a 5-0 verdict in Atlanta for his first decision of the season on April 12, then won two in a row before a 5-2 loss to Washington on May 7.

In his last outing, Chicago's 6-5 defeat of the Nationals on May 13, Volstad allowed eight hits and four runs in six innings while getting a no-decision.

Chicago took four of six from Florida last season.