Florida needs to find winning ways

Florida needs to find winning ways

Being beaten is one thing. Being blown out on successive nights was a bit much for Marlins manager Jack McKeon to stomach.

So after the Rockies rolled to a 9-3 win at Coors Field Wednesday, McKeon gave the team a stern postgame lecture.

"I was reminding them of a few things we need to do," said McKeon, who doesn't often give heated team speeches.

On Thursday the Marlins will see if the talk did any good as they try to avoid being swept for the first time since the Expos did it at Montreal on May 20-22.

Brad Penny, who is tied for the team lead in wins with 11, looks to get the Marlins back to their winning ways.

In 18 night starts, Penny is 11-3 (2.81), compared to his 0-6 record in day games.

On the road, Penny is 7-6 (4.70) in 14 outings.

Pitching matchup

COL: RHP Jose Jimenez

1-6, 5.81 in 2003

0-0, 18.00 vs. FLA in 2003

1-0, 5.06 vs. FLA lifetime

FLA: RHP Brad Penny

11-9, 4.00 in 2003

first appearance vs. COL in 2003

3-1, 1.30 vs. COL lifetime

Player to watch:

Rookie Miguel Cabrera extended his hitting streak to 11 straight games, tying him for the third-longest string by a Marlin this season. The 20-year-old left fielder had three hits in four at-bats and drove in two runs. In the streak he is 16-for-42 (.381).

Quotable:

"They've been dominating us. It's a pretty easy formula. They are scoring a lot more runs than we are." -- All-Star third baseman Mike Lowell on the first two lopsided losses