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Marlins look to clinch winning record

Sep 22, 2008 - 2:57 PM FLORIDA (81-73) AT CINCINNATI (72-83), 1:10pm EDT

CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- The Florida Marlins need one to secure a winning record for the first time in three years and for the fifth time in franchise history. Not bad for the team with by far the lowest payroll in the major leagues.

The Marlins, having lost two in a row following a nine-game winning streak, get another shot at win No. 82 on Monday afternoon against the Cincinnati Reds.

The Reds have won six of their last eight games and send their hottest pitcher to the mound. Aaron Harang (5-16, 4.70) has suffered through a miserable 2008 campaign after entering the year as the club's presumptive ace. But he appears to have finally hit his stride.

The 6-7, 275-pound righthander has not allowed an earned run in his last two starts. He went the distance his last time out, holding the St. Louis Cardinals to six hits while striking out four in a 3-0 triumph.

Harang will face off against the Marlins' budding ace, righthander Ricky Nolasco (15-7, 3.52), who hasn't lost since August 8. Nolasco endured some struggles of his own early in the year, but has won his last four decisions, including a two-hit, 11-strikeout shutout over the San Francisco Giants.

That wasn't unusual for Nolasco, who ranks 10th in the National League with 171 strikeouts. He struck out 13 over eight strong innings in a 5-3 win over the Colorado Rockies on August 2, one of three games in the month he which he fanned at least 10.