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Marlins-Cubs Preview

May 2, 2009 - 1:24 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Florida (14-8) at Chicago (10-11), 1:05 p.m. EDT

The Chicago Cubs hope a big home run from an unlikely source can help jump-start them offensively and put a slow start to the season behind them.

The Cubs look to carry the momentum from a comeback win into Saturday when they continue their four-game series with the Florida Marlins at Wrigley Field.

After falling below .500 for the first time in more than a year with Thursday's series-opening 8-2, 10-inning loss, Chicago (11-11) bounced back with an 8-6 victory Friday - just its third in 10 games.

The Cubs trailed 5-2 after five innings and appeared on their way to a third consecutive loss before Ryan Theriot's go-ahead grand slam in the sixth. The homer was Theriot's second in 667 at-bats since the start of last season.

"(Manager Lou Piniella) and I did have a discussion about it (last week)," Theriot said. "He sees me working out. He said I was plenty strong enough to do it so why don't I do it? It's cool. I'd like to hit a few every now and then."

Last year's NL Central champions are struggling in large part because of a lack of offense.

The Cubs were second in the majors with 855 runs last season, but have managed 10 in their last seven losses. They're 11-1 when scoring at least four runs and 0-10 when scoring three or fewer.

"Everybody is dangerous in that lineup," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "They haven't started swinging the bats."

Chicago got back in the win column at the expense of Florida (14-9), which had its three-game winning streak snapped.

The Marlins had plenty of opportunities to score but left 12 runners on base, matching a season high.

Jorge Cantu drove in two runs, giving him 12 RBIs in his last four games, but he struck out with two on to end the eighth.

Florida faces Ted Lilly (2-2, 3.80 ERA) on Friday, and Cantu, who's 7-for-14 with four homers in his previous four contests, is 9-for-21 (.429) with four home runs and three doubles against left-handers this season.

Lilly was not particularly sharp his last time out, yielding five runs, six hits and four walks in five innings of Wednesday's 7-2 loss to Arizona. He had allowed one run, six hits and two walks in 13 2-3 innings over his previous two starts.

Lilly will be trying to avoid dropping three straight starts for the first time since May 31-June 10, 2006, when he pitched for Toronto. It won't be easy, as Lilly's never beaten Florida - the only team he's faced and not defeated.

The left-hander is 0-4 with a 5.53 ERA in five starts versus the Marlins. He hasn't faced them since 2007.

Florida counters with Anibal Sanchez (1-2, 4.13), who makes his first career start at Wrigley.

After allowing five runs in 18 innings over his first three starts, Sanchez gave up six runs, four hits and two walks in the first inning of Monday's 7-1 loss to New York. The right-hander didn't let it get to him, settling down and holding the Mets scoreless over the next five innings before being lifted.

In his only career start against the Cubs, Sanchez allowed one run and three hits with five walks in 5 1-3 innings of a 2-1 victory Aug. 16.