Final
Marlins turn to Vazquez in opener with Dodgers
May 27, 2011 - 3:06 PM (Sports Network) - Javier Vazquez has a tough act to follow when he takes the mound tonight for the Florida Marlins in the opener of a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chavez Ravine.The Marlins, who are one game behind Philadelphia for the NL East lead, received a superb outing from Anibal Sanchez in Thursday's 1-0 win over San Francisco that completed a three-game sweep of the defending World Series champions. Sanchez tossed a five-hit shutout to run his record to 4-1 and struck out eight batters.
"He was kind of in that zone. He was able to get ahead with four different pitches," Marlins catcher John Buck said of Sanchez.
Logan Morrison hit an RBI single in the sixth inning for the Marlins, who have won five of their last six games and four in a row on the road. The Marlins will also visit Arizona for three games in the desert and are 15-7 away from south Florida this season.
Florida hopes Vazquez can keep the tides rolling when he makes his 10th start of the season Friday night. Vazquez was 0-2 in three starts before defeating Tampa Bay the previous time out in a 5-3 triumph. He scattered three hits over seven shutout innings with seven K's, improving to 3-4 and lowering his earned run average from 7.55 to 6.41.
Vazquez, a right-hander, has made 15 career starts against Los Angeles, going 5-6 with a 3.92 ERA and two complete games. He is 3-4 with a 4.14 ERA for his career at Dodger Stadium.
Los Angeles has lost nine of its last 12 games and went 2-4 on a six-game road trip against the White Sox and Astros. In Wednesday's 2-1 loss at Houston, J.R. Towles stroked a game-winning RBI single off of Dodgers reliever Matt Guerrier with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Ted Lilly started the first six innings and held the Astros to a run and six hits in the no-decision. Matt Kemp provided the offense by going 3-for-4 with a home run, while Dioner Navarro recorded two hits for the Dodgers, who will host Florida and Colorado on their upcoming residency in Hollywood.
"We couldn't get hits when we needed it," said Dodgers manager Don Mattingly.
Jon Garland may not need too many hits when he takes the mound for LA tonight since he's been solid in his career against the Marlins. In eight career starts in this series, Garland is 5-1 with a 2.36 earned run average. He did not record a decision in a 5-4 loss at Florida on April 25, when he allowed two runs in seven innings of work.
Garland is 0-3 in his last five starts overall and lasted a season-low 3 2/3 innings in a 9-2 road loss to the White Sox on Saturday. The right-hander was reached for seven runs and 11 hits -- both season-highs -- to fall to 1-4 with a 4.75 ERA in seven starts. Garland is just 1-3 in four home starts as well.
Florida won two of three meetings from the Dodgers in that late April series and has won six of the previous eight matchups between the two clubs.
- FLORIDA: 2
LOS ANGELES: 3
Final
May 28 12:49 AM - Pinch-Hitter Dioner Navarro singled to center scored Casey Blake with none out to end the game.
Marlins 2, Dodgers 3 Bot 9, 0 OutsMay 28 12:49 AM - Jamey Carroll struck out swinging. None on with one out and Tony Gwynn Jr. due up.
Marlins 2, Dodgers 2 Bot 8, 1 OutMay 28 12:28 AM - Andre Ethier two-out, solo Home Run (5) to right. Matt Kemp due up.
Marlins 1, Dodgers 2 Bot 6, 2 OutsMay 27 11:51 PM - Greg Dobbs singled to left scored Hanley Ramirez. Runner on first with two outs and Mike Stanton due up.
Marlins 1, Dodgers 1 Top 6, 2 OutsMay 27 11:42 PM - James Loney two-out, solo Home Run (2) to right. Rod Barajas due up.
Marlins 0, Dodgers 1 Bot 2, 2 OutsMay 27 10:45 PM - FLORIDA: 0
LOS ANGELES: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
May 27 10:11 PM
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