Marlins Face Rockies Looking For Rare 4-Game Sweep
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MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) – An ugly three-game sweep in Toronto could've really had a negative effect on the Miami Marlins, but the team has shown great resiliency since returning to South Florida.
The Marlins have rode solid starting pitching to their longest home winning streak of the season.
Dan Haren looks to continue that run Sunday as the Marlins try for a sixth consecutive home victory and first sweep there of the slumping Colorado Rockies in 11 seasons.
Mat Latos yielded a run and struck out 11 in seven innings of Saturday's 4-1 victory, giving the Marlins' starters a 1.89 ERA in their last five at home. Miami's rotation has posted a 1.92 mark as the team has gone 7-1 in its past eight at Marlins Park.
The Marlins (27-36) have outscored opponents 27-7 during their five-game run and turn to Haren (6-2, 3.12 ERA) as they try for their first home sweep of Colorado since August 2004.
In six home starts, the right-hander is 3-0 with a 1.96 ERA that ranks among the best in the NL. His last outing came at Toronto on Tuesday when he gave up two runs and struck out seven without a walk over seven innings. He was in line for the victory until the Blue Jays scored twice in the ninth for a 4-3 victory.
"It's the same as usual," Haren told MLB's official website. "I just take every game as its own entity. Whether my last start was good or bad, I try to not think about it."
Haren has dropped four consecutive decisions to the Rockies and has a 9.68 ERA while going 1-5 in his last seven against them. Colorado (27-34), however, has totaled four runs during a four-game skid.
"We're certainly having a difficult time right now," said manager Walt Weiss, whose team has scored twice through the first three of this four-game series.
Troy Tulowitzki had one of Colorado's five hits and the lone RBI in the sixth inning Saturday.
"This is one of the worst hitters' parks in baseball in my opinion," Colorado catcher Michael McKenry said.
Corey Dickerson is 5 for 7 with three doubles and two home runs against Haren, but could sit after re-aggravating a left foot injury Saturday.
"I'm not exactly sure how serious it is, but it is a chronic thing," Weiss said. "Hopefully, it didn't flare up too much."
Colorado's Jorge De La Rosa (3-2, 5.53) can set the club record for wins after allowing two runs and striking out eight in seven innings of a 4-3 victory over St. Louis on Tuesday. De La Rosa, 3-0 with a 2.92 ERA over his last four starts, has 72 wins to tie him with former All-Star Aaron Cook.
"It feels really good to be tied with Aaron Cook," De La Rosa said. "He was a really good pitcher for this franchise, and I'm glad to be there."
The left-hander has gone 1-1 with a 7.71 ERA in his first two trips to Marlins Park this season.
Giancarlo Stanton is 1 for 8 with a double against De La Rosa, but he's hit eight of his major league-leading 23 homers in the past 11 games. He's 12 for 22 with five home runs and 12 RBIs in the last six.
"Just finally feeling comfortable, not being tense up there, and staying relaxed," said Stanton, who's batted .377 with four home runs and 21 RBIs in his last 15 against Colorado.
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