Philadelphia @ Florida preview
Sun Life Stadium
Last Meeting ( Apr 18, 2010 ) Florida 2, Philadelphia 0
Three games into their nine-game road trip, the Philadelphia Phillies still are searching for their first run.
The two-time reigning National League champions hope to end their scoring drought tonight as they open a three-game series against the Florida Marlins at Sun Life Stadium.
Despite possessing one of the most potent offenses in baseball, Philadelphia failed to score a single run in three games at Citi Field against the New York Mets.
It marked the first time the Phillies have been blanked in three straight contests since 1983 and the first occasion a club was held scoreless in a three-game series since Minnesota was stymied by Kansas City in 2006.
Philadelphia's scoring woes did not begin in New York, however, as it was limited to one hit by Daisuke Matsuzaka and Daniel Bard in a 5-0 loss to Boston on Saturday. The Phillies have been shut out four times in five games for the first time since 1974.
Since the sixth inning of last Friday's 5-1 triumph over the Red Sox, the Phillies have crossed the plate just three times over their last 47 innings - with all three runs coming in the ninth inning of Sunday's 8-3 setback against Boston.
In losing seven of its last nine games, Philadelphia has been outscored by a 40-15 margin.
With hopes that a trip to the south will awaken their bats, the Phillies also need a solid performance from Kyle Kendrick. The 25-year-old right-hander has allowed four runs or more in four of his last six starts and six of nine this season.
Kendrick, who took the loss against Boston on Saturday, is 2-2 in nine career outings - five starts - vs. Florida. In his last start against the Marlins on September 9, 2008, he was reached for six runs and seven hits in just 1 1/3 innings.
Florida, which has lost five of its last seven games, counter with right-hander Chris Volstad. The 23-year-old is looking to halt a personal three-game losing streak and give a much-needed rest to the Marlins' bullpen, which has yielded 11 runs in eight innings over the last two contests.
In six career starts against the Phillies, Volstad owns a 2-2 record.
Two Phillies who have had success against Volstad are Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez. Howard owns a .400 average (6-for-15) with four home runs and five RBIs vs. Volstad while Ibanez has gone 2-for-8, with both hits being homers.
For Florida, Jorge Cantu is 5-for-9 (.556) lifetime against Kendrick with two homers and five RBIs and Dan Uggla has batted .357 (5-for-14) with a home run and five RBIs.
The Marlins, who went 2-7 at home against the Phillies last season, are 1-2 on their current 10-game homestand.