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Diamondbacks-Marlins Preview

May 18, 2009 - 2:00 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Arizona (14-23) at Florida (18-19), 7:10 p.m. EDT

The Arizona Diamondbacks haven't provided Dan Haren with much run support this season. The right-hander, though, probably wouldn't mind a repeat of his team's most recent offensive effort in his next start.

The two-time All-Star looks to help the Diamondbacks build off their latest victory in the opener of a four-game road series with the struggling Florida Marlins on Monday night.

Haren (3-4, 2.09 ERA) allowed three runs and six hits while striking out five in seven innings of a 3-1 loss to Cincinnati on Tuesday.

Arizona (14-23) - batting a major-league low .234 - has scored 18 runs in the eight starts by Haren, who didn't lose his fifth game last season until July 4. He has received the fourth-lowest run support (2.73) of any qualifying pitcher in the majors.

"If at the end of the day I can look in the mirror and know I gave it 100 percent ... that's all I can ask of myself," Haren told the Diamondbacks' official Web site. "If all the other guys are also giving their 100 percent, I'm fine with that."

Haren would be fine if the Diamondbacks can string together consecutive big games at the plate after beating Atlanta 12-0 on Saturday. Sunday's series finale with the Braves was postponed by rain.

Chris Snyder hit a grand slam and rookie Gerardo Parra had three hits and three RBIs in his third major league game Saturday for Arizona, which scored more than five runs for just the 10th time in 2009.

Parra is 5 for 13 with a homer and five RBIs since being called up from Double-A Mobile on Wednesday.

"A very exciting player, not just any other outfielder," manager A.J. Hinch said of the 21-year-old Parra. "He's been highly thought of in our organization for a few years."

Sunday's scheduled starter Jon Garland was pushed back to Tuesday to allow Haren to remain on schedule for this contest. Haren is 0-2 with a 4.19 ERA in three starts against the Marlins (18-20), who went 7-2 versus the Diamondbacks last season, including 5-1 at home.

"We certainly have to find a way to play well down there," Hinch said.

While the Diamondbacks are 2-6 since Hinch replaced the fired Bob Melvin on May 8, and haven't won consecutive games since May 1-2, Florida (18-20) has lost six of seven and is 7-19 since winning 11 of its first 12 contests.

Arizona could be in for a test, however, against Florida's Ricky Nolasco (2-4, 7.78).

Although he has struggled this season after winning a career-high 15 games in 2008, the right-hander is 4-0 with a 2.12 ERA in four career starts versus the Diamondbacks.

Nolasco, however, had his worst outing of the season Wednesday in an 8-6 loss at Milwaukee, giving up eight runs and seven hits in 3 2-3 innings.

"I'm trying to do a lot more than I need to do," Nolasco told the Marlins' official Web site. "I should slow down a little. I've felt close for a really, really long time now. The results aren't completely translating to where I'd like them to be."

Cody Ross broke up Clayton Kershaw's no-hitter in the eighth inning and had two of Florida's four hits in a 12-5 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.

Hanley Ramirez had his 13-game hitting streak snapped after going 0 for 4 on Sunday, but is batting .414 (24 for 58) with four homers in May. He is 2 for 6 with a double and triple against Haren.