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Hot-hitting Royals host Marlins

Jun 16, 2007 - 1:12 PM Florida (32-36) at Kansas City (27-41) 7:10 pm EDT

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) - The Kansas City Royals look to continue their hot-hitting when they host the Florida Marlins in the middle game of a three-game interleague series on Saturday.

In seven games during its current homestand, Kansas City is averaging more than eight runs per game and has scored 17 runs in a game twice this week.

Winless in his last five starts, Kansas City hurler Jorge De La Rosa (4-6, 4.73) is likely hoping for that kind of run support. The lefthander has pitched excellent at times this season, but has been unable to put together quality starts with any consistency.

After allowing one run over 7 1/3 innings during a 1-0 loss against the Cleveland Indians on June 5, De La Rosa gave up three runs, five hits and four walks in 3 2/3 innings to the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.

The Marlins counter with Rick Vanden Hurk (1-2, 8.61), who also is coming off a rough start. The 22-year-old allowed five runs in five innings during Sunday's 9-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Emil Brown provided a decisive two-run double in the sixth inning and Mike Sweeney drove in three runs with a double in the seventh to lead the Royals to a 6-2 victory here last night.

Florida's Miguel Cabrera continues to be the Marlins most dangerous hitter, leading the team with a .336 batting average and 14 home runs. He has an eight-game hitting streak and is batting .560 (14-for-25) during that span.