Sep 16, 2007, 14:49 GMT
- The Florida Marlins will attempt to sweep the Rockies in Colorado for a second straight season this afternoon when the two clubs finish off a three-game series at Coors Field.
The two teams split six contests last year, with each squad posting a three- game sweep on the road. Florida took three straight against Colorado from June 2-4. Colorado then won two of three games against the Marlins in Miami from September 31-August 2 of this season.
However, Florida has responded with consecutive wins in this set, including Saturday's 10-2 victory that was paced by Miguel Cabrera's grand slam and season-high five runs batted in.
Miguel Olivo chipped in with a pair of doubles, knocking in three runs for the Marlins, who have won four straight games. Logan Kensing (1-0) earned the win with two innings of scoreless relief.
Garrett Atkins had two hits and Yorvit Torrealba chipped in with an RBI double for Colorado, which has dropped three straight and four of its last six games. The Rockies fell 4 1/2 behind San Diego in the NL wild card standings after the Padres beat the Giants on Saturday.
The Rockies, who continue to play without starters Kaz Matsui (strained right hamstring) and Willy Taveras (strained right quadriceps), are also 6 1/2 games behind first-place Arizona in the National League West.
Rookie right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez (3-4) lasted only three innings in the start for Colorado. He took the loss by yielding five runs -- two earned -- on five hits.
Left-hander Franklin Morales will make his sixth career start today and first ever against the Marlins. He will be trying to build off his first career win, which came on Tuesday in Philadelphia after he held the club to just three hits over five shutout frames. Morales improved to 1-2 with a 4.84 earned run average.
Scott Olsen will try again to halt a six-start winless streak (0-4) when he toes the rubber for the Marlins this afternoon. Olsen hasn't won since August 5 and fell to 9-13 with a 5.81 ERA after taking the loss against Washington on Monday. The left-hander lasted five innings versus the Nationals, allowing four runs on seven hits and five walks with seven strikeouts.
Olsen is 1-1 in two career starts versus the Rockies with a 6.94 ERA. That includes a loss to the club on July 31 when he gave up six runs and seven hits over five frames.
© 2007 The Sports Network
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