(Sportsbooks) - The
Florida Marlins will be trying to put together a winning streak for the first time this month when the young club takes the field tonight against the
San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park.
Florida kicked off an important nine-game road trip with Tuesday's 6-0 triumph over the Giants in the first of three straight meetings between these teams. Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco went the distance on a brilliant two-hitter and helped his cause at the plate as well, contributing a two-RBI double during a three-run fifth inning.
Nolasco (12-7) struck out 11 Giants and issued just one walk in hurling the first complete game by a Florida pitcher since Anibal Sanchez accomplished the feat against Atlanta on September 16, 2006. The right-hander was in command from the start, throwing 78 of his 110 pitches for strikes.
John Baker went 3-for-4 with an RBI single and Jorge Cantu added two hits, including a solo home run, to help the Marlins keep pace in the National League East race. Florida is in third place in the division, four games behind the front-running New York Mets and 2 1/2 back of runner-up Philadelphia.
San Francisco committed a season-high four errors and saw its two-game win streak come to a halt.
Florida now aims for back-to-back victories for the first time since July 30-31. The team has struggled for much of August, having compiled a 7-10 record so far this month, but has now won two of its last three games.
Scott Olsen gets a chance to face the Giants' anemic offense tonight as he seeks to end a personal slide of four consecutive losing decisions. The young southpaw hasn't won in five starts since beating the Phillies on July 19, although Olsen has yielded three runs or less in three of those outings.
He pitched well in last Thursday's matchup against St. Louis but was victimized by a lack of run support in a 3-0 loss. In that game, Olsen allowed three runs over seven innings and struck out six without walking a batter.
The 24-year-old was hit hard in a defeat to the Giants in Miami back in May, lasting just 3 1/3 innings and getting tagged for seven runs (5 earned) on eight hits, including a pair of homers.
For his career, Olsen is 1-2 with a 4.15 ERA in three starts against San Francisco. This will be his first lifetime appearance at AT&T Park.
Matt Cain takes the hill for the Giants this evening in search of a third straight winning decision. The talented righty limited Atlanta to one run on six hits in seven innings of a 5-1 triumph on Friday, improving him to 3-1 with a 1.72 ERA over his last five mound trips. Cain has surrendered one earned run or fewer in four of those games.
The 23-year-old is 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA in three career starts against the Marlins. He recorded a no-decision at Dolphin Stadium on May 25, although Cain held the Fish to two runs and struck out six in six frames.
Florida won two of three tests from the Giants in Miami earlier this season. However, San Francisco is 10-5 over its last 15 encounters with the Marlins.
