Florida Marlins and Arizona Diamondbacks Live Streaming Major League Baseball Online Coverage Radio Commentary May 31, 2011. The Arizona Diamondbacks' Ian Kennedy has been one of the best starters in the majors over the past six weeks. So has the Florida Marlins' Anibal Sanchez.
The pitchers will oppose each other Tuesday night with Kennedy trying to deliver another win for the surging NL West leaders.
Kennedy (6-1, 3.01 ERA) is 5-0 with a 1.87 ERA in his last eight starts and seeking his fourth win in as many outings. Sanchez is 4-0 with a 1.64 ERA in his last seven games, but now must contend with baseball's hottest team.
The Diamondbacks (30-24) have a chance to win eight straight for the first time since April 4-12, 2008, have won 15 of 17, and are coming off one of the best offensive performances in franchise history.
Arizona had 19 hits -- one shy of the club record -- in Monday's series-opening 15-4 rout.
Kelly Johnson did match a franchise mark with four extra-base hits, including two home runs, and finished a single shy of the cycle. Justin Upton tied a career best by going 5 for 5 with three RBIs, and Miguel Montero also matched a personal best by driving in five runs.
"This is a very confident team," Johnson said, "a lot of momentum, a lot of just mojo, a lot of swagger, I mean, all of it, everything you're looking for in a winning team. It's been a lot of fun together."
Sanchez (4-1, 2.60) has a poor recent track record versus the Diamondbacks, going 0-1 in two starts over the last three seasons -- both at Chase Field -- while allowing 10 runs and 17 hits over 10 1/3 innings. He did throw a no-hitter at home against Arizona on Sept. 9, 2006, but only two players from that day's Diamondbacks lineup (Stephen Drew and Miguel Montero) are still on the roster.
Kennedy won his only start against Florida last July 10, allowing two runs and five hits over 5 1/3 innings. He gave up one run and scattered seven hits over eight innings in Wednesday's 2-1 victory at Colorado.
"I don't look too much into (my performance)," Kennedy told the Diamondbacks' official website. "Our team's playing well. I really like how our team looks."
Sanchez recorded his third career shutout and third win in four outings Thursday with a five-hitter in San Francisco. The right-hander fanned eight, giving him 34 strikeouts over hits last four starts.
"Anibal Sanchez is becoming one of the best pitchers in the major leagues," Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez told the team's official website. "He's showing that over and over. He's in control of the game. He needs to keep going."
He'll now try to keep the Marlins (30-22) from losing three in a row for the second time this season. Their other three-game skid was May 5-7.
Florida likely won't have All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez in the lineup. The struggling Ramirez, whose .210 average this season is nearly 100 points lower than his career mark, was held out of Monday's game with stiffness in his lower back.
"I'm feeling it in my legs, down the left side. A tingle in my legs. That's not a good sign," Ramirez told the team's website. "That's what we're worried about right now, the feeling in my legs. Hopefully it'll be better in a couple of days."
Marlins outfielder Logan Morrison has reached base safely in 31 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the majors.
The pitchers will oppose each other Tuesday night with Kennedy trying to deliver another win for the surging NL West leaders.
9:40 PM ET, May 31, 2011
Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona
The Diamondbacks (30-24) have a chance to win eight straight for the first time since April 4-12, 2008, have won 15 of 17, and are coming off one of the best offensive performances in franchise history.
Arizona had 19 hits -- one shy of the club record -- in Monday's series-opening 15-4 rout.
Kelly Johnson did match a franchise mark with four extra-base hits, including two home runs, and finished a single shy of the cycle. Justin Upton tied a career best by going 5 for 5 with three RBIs, and Miguel Montero also matched a personal best by driving in five runs.
"This is a very confident team," Johnson said, "a lot of momentum, a lot of just mojo, a lot of swagger, I mean, all of it, everything you're looking for in a winning team. It's been a lot of fun together."
Sanchez (4-1, 2.60) has a poor recent track record versus the Diamondbacks, going 0-1 in two starts over the last three seasons -- both at Chase Field -- while allowing 10 runs and 17 hits over 10 1/3 innings. He did throw a no-hitter at home against Arizona on Sept. 9, 2006, but only two players from that day's Diamondbacks lineup (Stephen Drew and Miguel Montero) are still on the roster.
Kennedy won his only start against Florida last July 10, allowing two runs and five hits over 5 1/3 innings. He gave up one run and scattered seven hits over eight innings in Wednesday's 2-1 victory at Colorado.
"I don't look too much into (my performance)," Kennedy told the Diamondbacks' official website. "Our team's playing well. I really like how our team looks."
Sanchez recorded his third career shutout and third win in four outings Thursday with a five-hitter in San Francisco. The right-hander fanned eight, giving him 34 strikeouts over hits last four starts.
"Anibal Sanchez is becoming one of the best pitchers in the major leagues," Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez told the team's official website. "He's showing that over and over. He's in control of the game. He needs to keep going."
He'll now try to keep the Marlins (30-22) from losing three in a row for the second time this season. Their other three-game skid was May 5-7.
Florida likely won't have All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez in the lineup. The struggling Ramirez, whose .210 average this season is nearly 100 points lower than his career mark, was held out of Monday's game with stiffness in his lower back.
"I'm feeling it in my legs, down the left side. A tingle in my legs. That's not a good sign," Ramirez told the team's website. "That's what we're worried about right now, the feeling in my legs. Hopefully it'll be better in a couple of days."
Marlins outfielder Logan Morrison has reached base safely in 31 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the majors.
