Against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night, Ricky Nolasco became the Florida Marlins' all-time strikeout leader.
As the early 90′s hit by Crowded House goes, “Everywhere you go, you always take the weather with you”. That’s been the case for the Florida Marlins. The Marlins played host to the Cincinnati Reds earlier this week. The series was originally slated for three games from Tuesday to Thursday, but the threat of rain from Hurricane Irene, moved Thursday’s game up and the Marlins played a doubleheader on Wednesday. As the Fish head to Philadelphia to battle the Phillies, the situation remains the same. Florida was scheduled to play three games with the Phillies from Friday to Sunday, but once again, Irene has turned Sunday’s matchup into a day-night doubleheader on Saturday. The Fish will leave Philadelphia and head to New York for five games, where they will play their third doubleheader in six days on Monday. The Marlins enter the three-game-set with the Phillies in last place in the National League East with a record of 58-72. Philadelphia has the best record in the National League and hold a six-game-lead over the Atlanta Braves in the N.L. East. Florida snapped a six-game-losing-skid on their last trip home, but have still wound up on the losing end in 17 of their last 20 games.
Season Series
Philadelphia leads 9-3. The Phillies are 5-1 at Citizens Bank Park against the Marlins this year. Florida took the first game between the teams in Philadelphia this year, but the Phils have won the last five there. The Phillies swept a four-game-series in Florida’s last visit to the city of brotherly love, outscoring the Fish 25-6 during the series.
Nolasco Atop Marlins’ Record Books
In Tuesday’s 8-6 loss to the Cincinnati Reds, Marlins’ starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco surpassed Dontrelle Willis to become Florida’s all-time strikeout leader. Nolasco struck out eight Reds to move into first place with 765. His third inning strikeout of Jay Bruce was the record breaker for Nolasco and the 759th of his Marlins’ career. Nolasco could get the ball in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader.
Welcome Back LoMo!
Logan Morrison rejoined the Marlins prior to Wednesday’s doubleheader; Morrison was optioned to Triple-A following August 13th’s 3-0 loss to the San Francisco Giants. In the second at-bat of his return, Morrison took Cincinnati’s Homer Bailey deep in the fourth inning. The solo home run soared an estimated 387 feet over the right field wall. The homer was Morrison’s 18th on the year, but his first against an opposing pitcher named Homer.
Pitching Matchups
Friday – Clay Hensley (FLA) 1-5, 5.47 ERA vs. Roy Oswalt (PHI) 6-7, 3.51 ERA
Saturday (Doubleheader) Game 1 – Anibal Sanchez (FLA) 7-6, 4.01 ERA vs. Roy Halladay (PHI) 15-5, 2.56 ERA
Game 2 – TBA (FLA) vs. Cliff Lee (PHI) 14-7, 2.71 ERA
