Haren, Marlins Look To Get Back On Track Against Defending Champ Giants
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
SAN FRANCISCO (CBSMiami/AP) – The Miami Marlins are coming off their first series loss in over two weeks and are hoping that a trip to the West Coast will get things back on track.
The San Francisco Giants lost their home winning streak when their pitching let them down, though there's reason to believe they'll be able to regroup with Tim Hudson on the mound.
The veteran right-hander will try to lead the Giants to a ninth victory in 10 games at AT&T Park on Thursday night by winning his seventh consecutive start against the Marlins.
San Francisco posted a 1.36 ERA over eight straight home wins - including three consecutive shutouts - before surrendering 16 hits in Wednesday's 9-1 loss to San Diego.
The Giants (14-14), however, appear to be in good hands as they look to bounce back in the opener of a four-game series.
Hudson (1-2, 3.78 ERA) has allowed three runs or less while pitching into the seventh inning in four of five starts. He worked into the ninth Saturday, giving up three runs and two hits in a 5-4 home win over the Los Angeles Angels.
"It is nice to know that you can go out there and pitch deep into the game," the 39-year-old told MLB's official website after earning his 215th victory. "But I wouldn't expect it too much from the old guy, to be honest."
Hudson has surrendered five home runs over his last three starts, though the past four have been solo shots. He's only allowed two homers while recording a 2.32 ERA in six consecutive victories against the Marlins.
Only St. Louis' Adam Wainwright (vs. Houston), Philadelphia's Aaron Harang (vs. Houston) and the Chicago Cubs' Jason Hammel (vs. Washington) have longer active runs against a single opponent with seven straight wins.
Hudson has never faced the Marlins at AT&T Park, where including the 2014 playoffs he had gone 0-8 with a 6.00 ERA in his previous 11 starts before Saturday's win.
Giancarlo Stanton is 3 for 18 when facing Hudson and Dee Gordon has gone 1 for 8. Stanton hit his seventh home run in Wednesday's 7-5 loss at Washington, while Gordon is 25 for 45 (.556) over an 11-game hitting streak and is batting .430 on the season.
The Marlins (13-15) have dropped three of four following a 9-1 stretch.
"I'm pretty pleased with the way we're playing, except for the fact that we had two leads in the first game of the series (against Washington) and couldn't get outs," manager Mike Redmond said.
Dan Haren (3-1, 2.70) has gotten off to a solid start with Miami, giving up two runs or fewer in four of five outings. The right-hander allowed four hits over six innings in Saturday's 7-0 victory over Philadelphia.
Haren hasn't had a decision despite yielding two earned runs and four hits over 13 innings in his only two starts against San Francisco in the past six seasons. He's 2-4 with a 4.06 ERA in nine starts at AT&T Park.
Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford and Buster Posey have each gone 1 for 6 when facing Haren. Belt, whose hit was a home run, has gone 6 for 13 with four doubles in the last four games.
Posey is expected to be in the lineup after getting Wednesday off, but he's 4 for 37 in his last 11 home games against the Marlins. Crawford is 4 for 29 in nine games versus Miami at AT&T Park.
The Marlins are hoping outfielder Christian Yelich can return from a lower back strain that landed him on the disabled list April 24.
(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
