• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Marlins-Rockies Preview

May 9, 2009 - 6:47 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Florida (16-14) at Colorado (11-17), 8:10 p.m. EDT

Hanley Ramirez appears to be healing nicely from a bruised right wrist that forced him to miss some time at the end of April.

On Saturday, the All-Star shortstop looks to continue his hot stretch while trying to help the Florida Marlins win consecutive games for the first time this month in the continuation of a three-game road set against the Colorado Rockies.

Ramirez had a season-high four hits with a homer and two RBIs in Florida's 8-3 victory at Colorado on Friday. The win snapped a three-game losing streak, and was just the second in eight games for the Marlins (16-14).

Florida, which last won two in a row on April 29-30, is 5-13 since winning 11 of its first 12.

"Like I always say, that's life. Anything can happen at any time," Ramirez told the Marlins' official Web site. "It's happening to us right now. We have to fight and try to get out of it."

Despite the team's recent struggles, Ramirez is heating up since missing the final three games of April after getting hit on the hand by a pitch against the New York Mets on April 27. The shortstop hit his third homer in two games Friday for the Marlins, who recorded a season-high 16 hits to snap a three-game road losing streak.

After easing his way back into the lineup, Ramirez is batting .522 (12 for 23) with four homers, five RBIs and eight runs scored during a six-game hitting streak.

"I feel better. I'm not quite (100 percent)," Ramirez said. "But I feel better at the plate."

Ramirez is 2 for 6 with two doubles in his career against Colorado's scheduled starter Jorge De La Rosa.

De La Rosa (0-2, 3.90 ERA) allowed six runs - three earned - and three hits in five innings of a 9-6 win at San Diego on Monday.

The left-hander hopes to improve on his 1-3 record with an 11.57 ERA as a starter versus the Marlins.

After Ricky Nolasco ended a Marlins-record stretch of 20 games without a win by a starting pitcher Friday, Josh Johnson takes the ball for Florida in this contest.

Johnson (2-0, 2.57) has pitched well, but hasn't gotten a decision his last four starts. He allowed two runs and eight hits while striking out six in 7 1-3 innings of Florida's 3-2, 14-inning victory at Cincinnati on Monday.

The right-hander, who has struggled with a 6.75 ERA in two road starts this season, makes his first against the Rockies after pitching two scoreless innings of relief versus them in 2006.

Todd Helton singled to extend his hitting streak to 11 games Friday for the Rockies (11-17), who have lost consecutive games. Helton is batting .476 (20 for 42) with eight RBIs during his streak.

"I go out there and play first base and try to put some good swings on the ball and be a good teammate," Helton told the Rockies' official Web site. "That's all I can do."

Helton is a lifetime .350 hitter against Florida.