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Diamondbacks-Marlins Preview

May 19, 2009 - 4:27 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Arizona (14-23) at Florida (18-20), 7:10 p.m. EDT

It's been more than two weeks since the Arizona Diamondbacks won consecutive games. They'll have to wait yet another day for the chance to do it again.

After back-to-back rainouts, the visiting Diamondbacks hope the weather finally cooperates when they face the struggling Florida Marlins on Tuesday night.

Florida (18-20) had a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning in Monday's series opener that was postponed after a rain delay of 1 hour, 36 minutes.

While that contest is scheduled to be made up as part of a doubleheader Wednesday, this one appears to be in jeopardy with Tuesday's forecast predicting more rain for the Miami area.

"Baseball is built on rhythm, tempo, and getting into a routine," Arizona manager A.J. Hinch said. "A little bit of practice (Monday) helps staying in that rhythm."

Arizona (14-23) beat Atlanta 12-0 on Saturday, but Sunday's finale was postponed for the club's first road rainout since Sept. 1, 2006, at Washington.

The Diamondbacks, who are last in the NL West and 2-6 since Hinch replaced the fired Bob Melvin on May 8, haven't won two straight since May 1-2 at Milwaukee.

The Marlins, meanwhile, have lost six of their last seven, but went 7-2 versus the Diamondbacks last season - including 5-1 at home.

The Diamondbacks are among the worst offensive clubs in the majors with 144 runs and a .234 batting average, but are looking to build off their highest scoring game of 2009.

Chris Snyder hit a grand slam and rookie Gerardo Parra had three hits and three RBIs on Saturday. 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," Hinch said of the 21-year-old Parra. "He's been highly thought of in our organization for a few years."

The Diamondbacks will likely be in for a challenge against Florida's Josh Johnson (3-0, 2.50 ERA), who is coming off his shortest outing of 2009.

Johnson allowed three runs - two earned - and three hits while walking five in four innings of a 5-3 loss at Milwaukee on Thursday.

The right-hander said his shoulder area felt tired prompting manager Fredi Gonzalez to remove him as a precaution. Last season, Johnson went 7-1 with a 3.61 ERA in 14 starts after missing the first three months while recovering from elbow surgery.

"Maybe it was just one of those days," said Johnson, who is 5-0 with a 2.98 ERA in his last 10 home starts since losing there on June 29, 2007. "I just have to go back out there and do what I've been doing."

Johnson makes his second career start against Arizona after giving up two hits in seven scoreless innings of a 4-1 win on Aug. 11, 2006.

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 Sunday, but is batting .414 (24 for 58) with four homers in May. He is hitless in three at-bats versus Arizona's Jon Garland, who was scheduled to start Sunday's series finale at Atlanta.

Garland (3-2, 5.18) matched his shortest outing of the season after allowing seven runs and 10 hits in 3 2-3 innings of a 13-5 loss to Cincinnati on May 11. He also gave up seven runs in 3 2-3 innings of a 12-7 loss to St. Louis on April 15.

"Everything was at the belt," Garland told the Diamondbacks' official Web site. "If you continue to throw pitches there, you're going to get hurt."

The right-hander is 0-1 with a 3.29 ERA in two starts against the Marlins.