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Miami hopes to avoid 0-3 hole in Cincinnati

Apr 7, 2012 - 2:42 PM (Sports Network) - The Miami Marlins' new look has yet to produce a victory.

Having already dropped the first game in their new ballpark and the opener of their three-game series with the Cincinnati Reds a day later, the Marlins try to avoid their first 0-3 start in 11 years this evening.

With a new name, look and roster, the Marlins dropped a 4-1 decision to the defending World Series champion Cardinals on Wednesday before heading to Cincinnati to open a series with the Reds. Miami's offense remained cold to start the season as it was shut out 3-0 by Johnny Cueto and a pair of Cincinnati relievers.

The Marlins have been limited to only seven hits over their first two games and wasted a decent National League debut from Mark Buehrle.

New Miami manager Ozzie Guillen hopes the team will break through offensively once the top of the lineup starts getting on base.

"We cannot sit and wait for guys to hit home runs," Guillen said. "We have a lot of speed -- hopefully they can get on base and we'll score runs."

Cueto, meanwhile, threw seven scoreless innings as he scattered three hits and two walks while getting backed up by one perfect inning apiece by Aroldis Chapman and Sean Marshall.

"He had great command of his pitches and his pitch count stayed low. He got into a little trouble in the sixth and the seventh, but he got out of it," said Baker. "What a way to start."

Ryan Ludwick and Chris Heisey hit RBI doubles for the Reds and Zack Cozart had two hits in Cincinnati's season-opening win.

Guillen next turns to Ricky Nolasco in an effort to get his first win as the Marlins manager. The right-hander went 10-12 with a 4.47 earned run average in a career-high 33 starts last year, reaching 10-or-more wins for a fourth consecutive season. Nolasco highlighted his campaign with an eight-strikeout effort versus the Reds on Aug. 23 that made him the Marlins' all-time leader in strikeouts.

The 29-year-old is 2-1 with a 5.28 ERA in his career versus the Reds over nine games and eight starts. Both wins have come at Great American Ball Park, where he also has a 4.21 ERA in five games (4 starts).

Right-hander Mat Latos makes his Reds debut tonight after being acquired from the Padres back in December and putting together a solid spring.

Latos threw a career-high 194.1 innings last year and matched a personal best with 31 starts, but went only 9-14 despite a 3.47 ERA. Playing for the struggling Padres, he got just 3.29 runs of support per outing that ranked as one of the lowest in the National League.

Latos, 24, has struggled over three career starts versus the Marlins, going 0-2 with a 9.26 ERA after allowing 12 earned runs over just 11 2/3 innings.

These two clubs split six games last season, but the Marlins have own just five times in 21 games at Cincinnati since 2006.