Two walks, a hit, and two runs for Cabrera last night.
Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The Marlins offense struggled to put together many scoring threats, going down in order three innings and grounding into two double plays. Miami had only one runner on third base the entire game.

After Everth Cabrera scored on an ugly error from Brantly, the score was 1-0 Padres going into the second inning. Second basemen Jedd Gyorko led off the inning with a home run pushing the lead to 2-0.

Wade LeBlanc walked catcher Nick Hundley in the fourth inning. Hundley advanced to second on a sac bunt from Cashner, and scored on a Chris Denorfia single, barely sliding under Brantly’s tag at home after an excellent throw from Marcell Ozunain right.  The Padres tested Ozuna’s arm the next at bat. Denorfia, who had advanced to second on Ozuna’s previous throw, was waved home on a Everth Cabrera single to right. Despite another bullet from Ozuna, it wasn’t in time and the Padres extended the lead to 4-0.

Tom Koehler relieved LeBlanc in the sixth, retiring the Padres in order. Koehler walked Everth Cabrera in the seventh, who then stole second and scored on a Chase Headley double. Padres led 5-0 for the rest of the game.

Alex Sanabia and the Marlins will try to salvage the series tonight at 10:10 ET.

May 2, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Miami Marlins left fielder Juan Pierre (9) steals third base during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies defeated the Marlins 7-2. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

The Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres will kick off the first game of their three game series tonight. Luckily for Miami fans, the game will start after the Miami Heat finish up their second round matchup against the Chicago Bulls.

The pitching matchup for tonight’s ball game will be Wade LeBlanc against Andrew Cashner. LeBlanc will be making his first start a Petco Park as a visitor. Cashner will be making his fifth start of the season.

To get yourself further ready for tonight’s game, check out the chat I had with avid Padres fan, Kevin Charity. Also check out the series preview for a scouting report on the pitching matchups.

Pitching Matchup:

Projected Lineup

Juan Pierre collected a couple of hits for the Marlins on Sunday, in the Marlins 14-2 route of the Philadelphia Phillies. Hopefully his bat is coming to life, as that would be a major boost to the Marlins lineup. Marcell Ozuna looks to build on his hot start to his career tonight, he has had at least one hit in every game of his career.

The Marlins bench will be short one bat, as Donovan Solano is likely to be headed to the Disabled List after the game with a sore left side.

Bold Prediction: Justin Ruggiano hits a big home run for the Marlins and LeBlanc delivers a solid start as the Marlins win their third straight game. Marlins win 6-2.

May 5, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Miami Marlins center fielder Justin Ruggiano (20) celebrates scoring with teammates during the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Marlins defeated the Phillies 14-2. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Winners of five of their previous eight games, the suddenly hot Miami Marlins travel to San Diego to take on the Padres. The Marlins won’t have an easy opponent in the Padres, as they come into this series winners of seven of their previous ten games.

The Marlins hope to keep their bats on fire, as they are coming off of a 14-run explosion on Roy Halladay and Philadelphia Phillie pitching.

Miami won five of six head-to-head meetings last season, including all three at Petco Park.

Miami Marlins (10-22) @ San Diego Padres (13-18)  May 6-8, Games 33-35

NL East Standings

Stadium: Petco Park

May 5, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; General view of the Petco Park sign during the San Diego Padres game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Stadium Dimensions:
Left field line—334 ft.
Left-center field—367 ft.
Center field—396 ft.
Right-center field—387 ft.
Right field line—322 ft.

2013 Season Statistics

May 1, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Andrew Cashner (34) delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

May 1, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Wade LeBlanc (23) throws in the fifth inning against the New York Mets at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Monday, May 6th- Wade LeBlanc vs Andrew Cashner:

Wade LeBlanc returns to face the team that drafted him in the second round in 2006. He will get the ball for the Marlins on Monday. This will be LeBlanc’s first start in San Diego as a visitor. LeBlanc pitched four seasons with the Padres, before being traded to the Marlins for catcher John Baker. Leblanc allowed four earned runs over 5 2/3 innings pitched Wednesday against the Mets, but escaped with a no decision. LeBlanc has allowed 10 earned runs in his previous 15 innings, including some trouble with the long ball.

San Diego will have Andrew Cashner on the mound. Cashner is making just his fourth start of the season since being moved into the rotation from the bullpen. In his his previous start against the Chicago Cubs, Cashner lasted only four innings after giving up four runs on six hits. Cashner also walked four and struck out just one batter.

Tuesday, May 7th- Alex Sanabia vs Eric Stults

May 2, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Miami Marlins pitcher Alex Sanabia (28) delivers to the plate during the fourth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies defeated the Marlins 7-2. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Sanabia’s time in the Marlins starting rotation keeps being prolonged due to injuries to Nathan

May 2, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Eric Stults (53) delivers a pitch during the game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Reid Compton-USA TODAY Sports

Eovladi and Henderson Alvarez. Eovaldi is not expected back until mid-June and there is no timetable on Alvarez after he suffered a set back this past week. None the less, Sanabia will take the mound for the Marlins Tuesday night. His 4.67 ERA and 5.91 FIP suggest he is at best a poor number 5 starter.

Eric Stults will be the Padres starter in game two, Tuesday night. Stults is a soft-tossing lefty, the type of pitcher that has often given the Marlins troubles in the past. The former Dodger will not strike out a ton of batters, but he also maintains good control and won’t walk many hitters, either. Stults pitched 6 2/3 innings Thursday against the Cubs, giving up two runs on seven hits and two walks. He struck out four Cubs, but did not factor in the decision.

Wednesday, May 8th- Ricky Nolasco vs Jason Marquis

Ricky Nolasco gets the ball in the finale for the Fish. Nolasco has been up and down for the Fish this season. In one start, he will look like the Nolasco of old, racking up strikeouts and inducing groundball outs. The next start he will struggle to strike any hitters out and allow a bunch of flyballs. Ricky allowed three home runs in his last start against the

May 3, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Miami Marlins pitcher Ricky Nolasco (47) watches as Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Domonic Brown (9) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the fourth inning at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies defeated the Marlins 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Phillies. The Marlins will need Ricky to pitch a bit better if they want to extrapolate as much as

May 3, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Jason Marquis (21) throws during the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

they can for him in a future trade.

Veteran Jason Marquis pitches in the finale for the Padres. Marquis has not fared well in 2013, as he has almost as many walks (19) as he does strikeouts (23). He has also surrendered six long balls on the season in just 36 innings of work. This has led to his ugly 4.25 ERA and even uglier 5.74 FIP. In his last start against the Diamondbacks on Friday, Marquis gave up three runs on four hits and five walks with five strikeouts in a victory.

Bold Prediction: The Marlins stay hot and take two of three from the Padres. Marcell Ozuna will comeback down to earth a little bit, but continue his hitting streak to 9 games by the end of the series. Justin Ruggiano‘s bat will also find the fans a couple of times in this series.

May 1, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; New York Mets center fielder Jordany Valdespin (1) rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run in the sixth inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. The Mets won 7-6. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Miami Marlins came into this game looking to sweep the New York Mets after guaranteeing themselves their first series win of the season by taking the first two games on Monday and Tuesday.  They sent LHP Wade LeBlanc to the mound to face off against Mets’ starter Dillon Gee.

Things started out splendidly for the Marlins in the bottom half of the first inning as the first two batters reached via walks and Justin Ruggiano delivered a single to drive in the first run.  With two outs in the inning, Chris Valaika would double into the leftfield corner to drive in 2 more runs and give the Marlins a 3-0 lead.  The Marlins would add another run in the fourth on a single by Juan Pierre driving in LeBlanc, who had also singled, and allowing them to take a 4-1 lead.

Wade LeBlanc was not at this best on the day as he allowed at least one baserunner in every inning, but was able to hold the Mets to just one run through the first five innings.   He would run into trouble in the sixth inning, however, as he allowed a run and left two Mets on base when he was removed with 2 outs in the inning.  A.J. Ramos would come on to try to close out the inning and the Mets countered by bringing up pinch hitter Jordany Valdespin.  Valdespin promptly delivered with a 3-run homer to give the Mets a 5-4 lead.  LeBlanc ended up going five and two-thirds innings and giving up 4 earned runs on 8 hits.  He struck out 4 and did not walk a batter.

The Mets extended their lead in the seventh inning as ex-Marlin John Buck continued to pound his former team with a 2 RBI double that would make the score 7-4.  The Marlins would make a comeback, though, in the bottom half of the inning.  Ruggiano would again deliver a single with Marlins on base and Mets leftfielder Lucas Duda allowed the ball to bounce by him to the fence as both Marlins runners came in to score.  The score was now 7-6 with Ruggiano standing on third and only 1 out in the inning. The Marlins appeared to be in prime position to get the tying run home, but it was not to be as the next two hitters were promptly retired.

Mets closer Bobby Parnell came on in the ninth and quickly dispatched of the Marlins hitters in order to seal the victory.  Dillon Gee (2-4) was credited with the win for the Mets as they improved to 11-15 and Ramos (0-1) took the loss for the Marlins as they fell to 8-20.

Up Next: The Marlins will now head to Philadelphia to take on the Phillies in a 4 games series over the weekend.  On Thursday, Alex Sanabia (2-3) starts for the Marlins and Kyle Kendrick (2-1) will take the ball for the Phillies.

Apr 4, 2013; Washington, DC, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Wade LeBlanc (23) throws during the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

The Miami Marlins have won three consecutive ballgames and are seeking their first series sweep of the season. The Marlins own a winning record (3-2) against the New York Mets, but are a pathetic5-17 against all teams. Maybe the Marlins could request more games against the Mets?

The pitching matchup in the finale will feature Wade LeBlanc for the Marlins and Dillon Gee for the Mets. Neither starter has pitched well of late, but will have a good chance to bounce back against offenses that don’t put too many runs on the board.

Pitching Matchup:

Projected Lineup

Do not think I could name a Single-A team that is devoid of talent. Manager Mike Redmond has no choice to roll out the players he is presented with, but there is no way this lineup has more talent than the roster he managed last season in the Blue Jays organization.

Obviously the injuries to key players such as Giancarlo Stanton and Logan Morrison are doing the Marlins no favors. When those two return, the Marlins lineup will drastically improve, but that is not saying much, as the struggle to score runs will still be evident.

Bold Prediction: As much as I would like to see the Marlins finish the sweep, I see the David Wright and the Mets jumping on Wade LeBlanc early and often. Wright will hit a two-run homer in the first and the Mets will never look back. Ozuna will collect his first big league homer in this one. Mets win 7-4.