Cabrera Tries to Deliver Again
Through the smoke and haze, Miguel Cabrera again delivered in the clutch for the Florida Marlins.
The star third baseman will try to lead the Marlins to consecutive home wins as they continue a four-game series with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night.
Oddsmakers have made Florida -125 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for today’s game, the over/under has been set at 9 total runs (Matchup). Our public betting information shows that 78% of bets for this game have been placed on Florida -125 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
Due to brush fires that were burning in southwestern Florida, a haze hung over Dolphin Stadium during Tuesday’s game. But Cabrera seemed to put it aside with relative ease, first hitting a two-run homer to highlight a four-run fifth inning and then a walk-off single in the ninth of a 6-5 victory for the Marlins (15-17).
"I tried to shorten my swing and get a base hit all the way,” Cabrera said. "He (Jonathan Broxton) threw me a fastball away, and I got it.”
The 24-year-old Cabrera has been a difficult out with runners in scoring position over his career – with a .316 lifetime average – but he is leading the majors in 2007 with a .423 mark (11-for-26).
He is 4-for-10 with one homer lifetime against Dodgers starter Brett Tomko (0-3, 4.40 ERA), who gets the ball Wednesday for Los Angeles (19-14).
Tomko hopes to avoid the control problems that have plagued him throughout the season. The right-hander took the loss at Atlanta on Friday, when he issued a season-high six walks and gave up four runs in 4 2-3 innings of a 4-0 defeat.
"I thought I threw the ball decent,” said Tomko, who allowed his most walks since May 31, 2005, when he also walked six. "I didn’t think I was wild. I was just missing.”
Tomko has walked 17 in just 28 2-3 innings this season. He is 6-1 with a 3.00 ERA in nine starts and 12 lifetime games against the Marlins, though he will be making his first start against them since a loss on Aug. 13, 2005.
Marlins ace Dontrelle Willis (5-1, 5.44) will try to take advantage of another chance to win his third consecutive decision. The left-hander was bailed out of a losing situation by his teammates Friday after he allowed four runs – all in the sixth inning – and four hits in six innings, but the Marlins rallied for a 5-4 win over the San Diego Padres.
I think I pitched well enough to win the ballgame," said Willis, who also issued four free passes. "I’ve got to get rid of the walks."
Willis is 1-4 with a 7.66 ERA in five lifetime starts against the Dodgers, and was reached for four runs and seven hits with five walks in 6 2-3 innings in losing his only start against them in 2006.
He is 1-2 with a 10.50 ERA in three home starts versus Los Angeles.
Marlins first baseman Mike Jacobs may miss his second straight game due to a bruised thumb. Jacobs, who went 0-for-3 in the series opener Monday, is hitting just .220 (11-for-50) with 13 strikeouts in 13 home games.
"I’m going to have to keep an eye on it, and when it starts getting sore maybe take a day off,” he said prior to Tuesday’s game.
The Dodgers have not lost consecutive road games since opening the season with losses at Milwaukee on April 2 and 3.
by: Michael Cash – thespread.com – Email Us
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