Florida @ Colorado preview
Coors Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 16, 2009 ) Colorado 7, Florida 3
The Florida Marlins face the difficult task of having to play a three-game series this weekend in the thin air of Colorado, but at least they won't have to face Ubaldo Jimenez.
After sitting through the first rainout of the season on Friday night, the Marlins will take their hacks on Saturday afternoon against left-hander Greg Smith of the Colorado Rockies.
Jimenez tossed the first no-hitter in franchise history and the first in the majors this season last weekend. He followed it up Thursday night with another stellar performance, scattering five hits and striking out five in 7 1/3 scoreless innings en route to a 2-0 victory against the Washington Nationals.
Ian Stewart hit his team-leading fourth home run in the contest and paces the club with 10 RBIs.
But the reason Colorado has been hovering around .500 early in the season has been the pitching staff beyond Jimenez, who moved to 4-0 on Thursday. The rest of the staff has combined to go 3-4 with a 5.92 ERA.
Smith is 1-1 with a 4.67 mark and has been hurt by a lack of command in his first three starts, issuing 11 walks in 17 1/3 innings, including seven in 5 1/3 innings last Sunday.
The left-hander was in line for the win Sunday until Atlanta Braves rookie sensation Jason Heyward singled in two runs in the bottom of the ninth against Rockies closer Franklin Morales for a walk-off win.
Florida is coming off a 5-1 triumph over the Houston Astros on Thursday. Cody Ross drove in two and Dan Uggla doubled home another in support of Anibal Sanchez to help the Marlins avoid a sweep.
Ricky Nolasco will take the hill for Florida Saturday coming off a complete game against the Philadelphia Phillies last Sunday. The right-hander picked up his first win of the season by surrendering one run on five hits and three walks against the defending two-time National League champs.
Nolasco has only faced the Rockies twice in the last three seasons - once in Denver - and has won both times, allowing six runs in 14 total innings.
The Marlins have had no problems this season at the end of the game, where Leo Nunez has established himself firmly as the team's closer. The 26-year-old Dominican has allowed one hit and no runs in 7 1/3 innings this season while striking out 10. He struck out the side in the ninth inning on Thursday.
Nunez has been an example of the many shrewd moves by the Florida front office, coming to the club from Kansas City in exchange for Mike Jacobs prior to the 2009 season. Jacobs, who was not tendered a contract by the Royals over the winter, was designated for assignment by the New York Mets last week.