Latos, Marlins Face DBacks Looking To End Road Skid
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PHOENIX (CBSMiami/AP) – Things just aren't going the Miami Marlins way in 2015.
The Arizona Diamondbacks ended a lengthy skid in this series opener by adding to one for the Marlins.
Mat Latos starts for the first time in 2 1/2 weeks looking to help the Marlins snap an eight-game road losing streak Tuesday night with another effective outing away from home.
David Peralta provided a two-run single as Arizona (43-48) ended a season-worst, six-game slide Monday with a 3-1 victory over Miami and avoided a fifth consecutive home loss.
"It was good. It was six in a row that we had lost and there was the All-Star break in between so there was a (12-day) stretch where we didn't have any wins," shortstop Nick Ahmed said. "Any time you win it's good and it picks everybody's morale up in here."
Ahmed tripled and had 10 assists - one shy of a team record - while helping the Diamondbacks win for the fifth time in as many matchups with Miami this year. The only time Arizona has had a longer win streak in this series was an eight-game run from 1998-99.
The Marlins (38-55) were sent to their longest road losing streak since a 10-gamer May 11-June 5, 2013. They've dropped 15 of 17 away from home.
Latos (3-6, 4.90 ERA) lost on the road in his latest start but certainly wasn't to blame, yielding one run - on a wild pitch - and one hit in seven innings in a 2-0 loss to the Chicago Cubs on July 5. He has a 1-3 record in six road games despite having a 2.08 ERA in the last four, receiving a combined seven runs of support.
The right-hander was forced to skip a start against Cincinnati on July 11 because of a sore right foot.
"It takes a lot for me not to be able to pitch in a ballgame," Latos told MLB's official website.
In his return, Latos will try to avoid another outing against Arizona like the one he had in a 7-6 loss May 21 in Miami. He allowed six runs in 5 1-3 innings after going 4-1 with a 2.61 ERA in his previous eight starts versus the Diamondbacks.
Latos is 3-0 with a 1.60 ERA in five career starts in Arizona.
Jeremy Hellickson (6-5, 5.04) also had to deal with a health issue - a blister on his right thumb - in his final start before the All-Star break July 8 in Texas. The right-hander was limited to four innings after going a season-high seven in an 8-1 win over Colorado six days earlier.
Hellickson gave up two runs in six innings in Miami on May 19 but did not get a decision in a 4-2 victory. He has no record and a 4.60 ERA in three career starts versus the Marlins.
Peralta has a 1.150 OPS with 15 RBIs in his last 18 games.
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