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Slowey hopes for some run support versus D'Backs

May 17, 2013 - 2:36 PM (Sports Network) - Tough-luck righty Kevin Slowey tries to end the Miami skid on Friday night when the Marlins host the Arizona Diamondbacks in the opening game of a three-game series at Marlins Park.

The Marlins were on the short end of the finale of a sweep on Thursday when Brandon Phillips drove in the go-ahead run as part of a three-run rally in the 10th inning and the Cincinnati Reds earned a 5-3 win.

Juan Pierre homered for the first time since June 23, 2012, while Matt Diaz drove in one run for the Marlins, who have lost five straight.

Starter Jose Fernandez allowed two runs on five hits and three walks in a seven-inning no- decision.

Slowey, a 13-game winner for Minnesota in 2010, was 0-2 in his initial six starts with the Marlins this season while compiling a solid 2.15 earned run average in 37 2/3 innings.

He defeated Philadelphia for win No. 1 on May 5, but was nicked for 11 hits and five runs in a 7-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in his last outing on May 11.

The native Texan, who turned 29 earlier this month, tumbled from 13 wins in 2010 to zero in 2011 and was out of the majors entirely last season before signing a free-agent deal with Miami on Jan. 15.

Slowey got a no-decision in one career relief outing against Arizona, allowing two runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning.

He's opposed by California-born righty Trevor Cahill, who had a two-game win streak snapped in his last outing.

A 13-game winner with Arizona last season, Cahill began this season at 0-3 in four starts before defeating Colorado and the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 25 and May 6, respectively.

He allowed just a run on three hits in five innings in one subsequent start against Philadelphia on May 11, but wound up on the losing end of a 3-1 verdict while his earned run average dipped from 2.80 to 2.70.

Cahill is 0-1 in two career starts against Miami.

On Wednesday in Arizona, Eric Chavez went 2-for-3 and recorded two of his three RBI during a four-run fifth inning that paved the way for the Diamondbacks' 5-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves in the finale of a three- game set.

Didi Gregorius and Cody Ross each drove in a run during the rally, which made a winner out of Ian Kennedy (2-3), who had given up two runs in his fifth and final inning.

He struck out seven and allowed three runs in all on five hits. It's Kennedy's first victory since defeating the St. Louis Cardinals on Opening Day.

Heath Bell worked around a one-out double in the ninth to notch his sixth save and give the D'backs the series victory. Arizona has won seven of its last 10 games.

The Diamondbacks won five of eight games over the Marlins in 2012 and five of seven in 2011. The teams split six games in 2010.