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Aloha, Mr. Hand: Marlins lefty gets nod vs. D'Backs

Jun 12, 2011 - 3:42 PM (Sports Network) - Lefty rookie Brad Hand takes a major-league mound for the second time today when the Florida Marlins host the Arizona Diamondbacks in the third game of a four-game series at Sun Life Stadium.

The Marlins entered the set on an eight-game losing skid, but ended the drought with a win in Friday's opener. Arizona evened matters on Saturday night when Kelly Johnson belted a three-run double and Ryan Roberts had a leadoff homer en route to a 9-5 triumph.

Johnson's bases-clearing double came as part of a decisive six-run fourth inning, which was spearheaded by a leadoff homer from Stephen Drew.

Ian Kennedy (7-2), the beneficiary of Arizona's offensive surge, allowed five runs over eight innings while striking out nine to earn the win.

Chris Coghlan, Gaby Sanchez and Mike Stanton each homered for the Marlins. Javier Vazquez (3-6) lasted just 3 2/3 innings, allowing seven runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out six.

Hand, a second-round choice of the Marlins in 2008, debuted five days ago at home against Atlanta and took a loss after allowing just a solo home run in six innings of a tough-luck 1-0 defeat.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder, who turned 21 in March, began pitching in the Marlins' minor-league chain as an 18-year-old in 2008 and was 3-2 in six starts with a 2.64 earned run average in 47 2/3 innings.

He spent 2009 in Single-A and jumped to Double-A in 2010, then was 7-1 in 11 starts at Double-A this year before going straight to the majors.

For Arizona, streaking righty Daniel Hudson aims for a fourth straight win.

The 24-year-old was 3-5 on the season after a 3-2 loss at San Francisco on May 12, but is 3-0 in five starts since while trimming his season ERA from 4.41 to 3.98.

He allowed three hits and a single earned run in seven innings of his last start, but took a no-decision in a game the Diamondbacks lost, 8-5.

Hudson was touched for 10 hits and four runs in seven innings against Florida on June 1 in Phoenix, but also got a no-decision in a game Arizona won, 6-5.

It was Hudson's lone career start against the Marlins. Arizona is 7-6 in the 13 games he's started.

Arizona, which won 15 of 17 games from May 14-30, took two of three meetings with the Marlins from May 30-June 1.