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Sanchez faces Diamondbacks for first time since no-hitter

Aug 22, 2008 - 10:21 AM Florida (65-63) at Arizona (66-60) 9:40 p.m. EDT

PHOENIX (Ticker) -- Anibal Sanchez has special memories of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Sanchez and the Florida Marlins continue their nine-game road trip when they visit the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday.

The last time Sanchez (2-2, 3.52 ERA) took the mound against the Diamondbacks was September 6, 2006. On that date, he became the fourth Marlin to throw a no-hitter. The 2-0 victory ended in controversy as Hanley Ramirez's throw to first base narrowly beat Eric Byrnes after the Arizona outfielder hit a groundball to the shortstop.

While Byrnes still maintains that he was safe, Sanchez has moved on and knows he faces a completely different team this time around.

"This is the second time that I'm facing them. It's different now," Sanchez said. "What happened in '06 is in the past. Now, I've come back from my surgery. I'm not thinking too much about the no-hitter. I just want to stay out there more innings: seven, eight, nine innings."

Sanchez, who missed the first four months of 2008 while recovering from right shoulder surgery, allowed one run and three hits in 5 1/3 innings, leading the Marlins to a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday.

Randy Johnson (10-9, 4.16), who has surrendered two runs or fewer in five of his last six starts, counters for the Diamondbacks.