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Harden in search of first win when Cubs face Marlins

Jul 26, 2008 - 6:33 AM Florida (54-49) at Chi Cubs (60-43) 1:05 p.m. EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Rich Harden will be making his third start and looking for his first win as a National Leaguer when the Chicago Cubs host the Florida Marlins on Saturday.

Harden is 0-1 with a 0.73 ERA since coming over from the Oakland Athletics along with Chad Gaudin on July 8, allowing one run and six hits in 12 1/3 combined innings while striking out 20 batters. But those efforts have yet to put the 26-year-old in the win column.

Harden left his first start on July 12 after 5 1/3 scoreless innings but All-Star Carlos Marmol helped squander a 7-0 lead and the Cubs were forced to pull out a win in extra innings.

On Monday, the British Columbia native allowed one hit - a solo home run to Alex Romero - in seven innings but suffered the loss against the Diamondbacks.

The Cubs (60-43) are locked in a battle with the Milwaukee Brewers (59-44) atop the NL Central Division, and Harden is expected to be the piece that keeps the edge in Chicago's favor. The Brewers' big pitching acquisition, CC Sabathia, is 4-0 since moving to the NL.

The Marlins took the first game of the series, 3-2, on Friday when Jeremy Hermida hit a solo homer in the top of the ninth to snap a tie.

Florida will send promising rookie Chris Volstad (2-1, 2.16) to the mound on Saturday. The 21-year-old righthander suffered his first loss Monday against the Atlanta Braves, allowing three runs and six hits in six innings.