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Marlins target series win at Oakland

Jun 30, 2011 - 2:38 PM (Sports Network) - It has been a month to forget for the Florida Marlins, but they can still close out June on a strong note.

The Marlins will try to win their first series since late May this afternoon as they close out a three-game series with the Oakland Athletics at the Coliseum.

After Oakland's Gio Gonzalez dominated the Marlins offense in a 1-0 shutout on Tuesday, Florida's Ricky Nolasco returned the favor last night with a 3-0 blanking.

Nolasco, who won for the first time since May 24, scattered five hits and two walks in his second career shutout and fifth complete game.

"Some of these guys need to find out that they can go nine innings. That should be the goal of every pitcher on every club, to go nine. Unfortunately, we won't let them," Marlins interim manager Jack McKeon said.

Hanley Ramirez hit a two-run homer in the first inning, his first since May 21, and Logan Morrison added a solo shot for the Marlins, who have captured three of their four victories this month over their past seven games. Their 23 setbacks in June have already set a club record for the most in a single month.

Still, Florida can win its first series today since a three-game sweep of the Giants from May 24-26. Tasked with accomplishing that goal is Chris Volstad, who snapped a string of 10 straight winless starts by beating the Mariners on Saturday.

Volstad had lost a career-worst six straight decisions over his drought, which ended after he gave up two runs on five hits over 6 2/3 innings against Seattle. The righty took a no-hitter into the fifth inning and recorded his first victory since April 26, improving to 3-7 with a 5.42 earned run average in 15 starts this season.

Volstad, who has given up just three runs in his last two outings, is only 1-3 with a 6.50 ERA in eight road starts and faces the A's for the first time.

Oakland turns to Trevor Cahill, who has won back-to-back starts since a five- decision losing streak that spanned seven starts and featured a 5.67 ERA.

Cahill, though, gave up just a run and struck out seven batters in a 2-1 victory over the Giants on June 19 to halt his funk, then limited the Phillies to a run on three hits and three walks over 7 2/3 innings of a 4-1 victory on Saturday.

The 23-year-old right-hander retired 12 straight batters at one point, but was pulled after 104 pitches.

"It seemed like right when he hit 100 pitches, he lost his control a little bit," said A's interim manager Bob Melvin.

Cahill is 8-5 with a 3.09 ERA in 17 starts this year and faces the Marlins for the first time. he is 2-0 with a 1.25 ERA in three starts against the National League this season and has a five-game winning streak in interleague play.

Cahill will be backed by an offense today that has been held to two runs or fewer in six of its last seven games, winning just twice in that span. The Athletics had five hits and committed two errors in last night's loss.

"We didn't have much to show for some pretty good at-bats today, which adds to the frustration," Melvin said.

Guillermo Moscoso (2-4) took the loss despite striking out a career-high eight in six innings. Only one of the three runs he allowed was earned.

The A's and Marlins came into this series having split six all-time meetings, with Oakland taking two of three at home in the last meeting in 2008.