Florida @ Chicago preview
Guaranteed Rate Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 20, 2007 ) Florida 5, Chi. White Sox 4
Interleague play is arriving just in time for Mark Buehrle.
The veteran left-hander looks to halt a personal losing streak tonight when he takes the mound as the Chicago White Sox host the Florida Marlins in the opener of their three-game interleague series.
Since winning his first two starts of the season, Buehrle has struggled, going 0-5 with a 6.44 ERA over his last six outings.
However, the 31-year old has excelled in interleague play during his career, posting a 19-6 record against National League opponents.
Buehrle's victory total is the third-highest since interleague play began. Only Mike Mussina (21) and Jamie Moyer (20) have more.
Chicago also hopes Buehrle can help end its skid. The White Sox have dropped three of their last four games and five of seven, including Thursday's 6-5 setback to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Trailing 6-1, Chicago staged an uprising in the eighth inning, cutting the deficit to one on two-run hits by Gordon Beckham and A.J. Pierzynski. But with runners on second and third and two out, Andruw Jones flied out against Fernando Rodney, ending the rally.
Much like Buehrle, the White Sox have performed well in interleague play. Chicago owns a 128-101 record, including a 69-44 mark at home, and has gone 16-6 in its last 22 games vs. the NL.
The Marlins, however, pose a serious threat. Florida boasts the best interleague winning percentage (.548) among NL teams with a 120-99 record and has won four of its six all-time meetings with Chicago.
Ricky Nolasco gets the call for the Marlins, who have won six of their last eight games. The 27-year old right-hander enters with a personal two-game winning streak and a 4-2 lifetime interleague mark.
Since allowing five runs against Cincinnati on April 12, Nolasco has held opponents to three earned runs or less in five of his last six games.
On Thursday, Florida built a 2-0 lead against St. Louis' Adam Wainwright in the first inning but was unable to maintain it.
Nate Robertson surrendered one run in the bottom of the frame and three more in the second, becoming just the second Marlins starter this month to yield over three runs.
Florida's rotation has gone 10-5 with a 2.79 ERA in May thus far.
Chris Coghlan, the 2009 National League Rookie of the Year, went 2-for-4 and scored a run Thursday. The 24-year old has registered at least one hit in 11 of his last 12 games.