Alex Sanabia will make his first Major League start for the Marlins Sunday as they head into the All-Star break.
The 21-year-old was brought up from Double-A Jacksonville on June 22 and has made three relief appearances. In his first start, he'll face another recent Double-A callup in Arizona right-hander Barry Enright, who will make his third start in the big leagues since getting brought up from Mobile.
Sanabia was a standout in Jacksonville, posting a 5-1 record in 14 starts. In 84 1/3 innings, he struck out 65 and walked 16. He previously was managed by Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez at Class A Greensboro, and now he'll be starting for Rodriguez in the Majors.
"I was a little surprised," Sanabia said. "I'm been fortunate, and I'm glad it happened."
In the three relief appearances, he's 0-1 with a 4.32 ERA and has allowed four earned runs and 10 hits in 8 1/3 innings. He has pitched multiple innings in each relief appearances, and the Marlins hope he can go five innings on Sunday.
As for Enright, he won his debut June 30 at St. Louis, giving up one run and four hits in five innings of a 4-2 win. He lasted 5 2/3 innings on Tuesday against the Cubs but allowed three runs and seven hits in a 6-4 loss.
He'll have the responsibility of trying to give the D-backs a semblance of momentum heading into the break. They've lost six of their past eight, but have a chance at taking the four-game series from the Marlins.
"It's not how anybody envisioned it going," D-backs interim manager Kirk Gibson said of the season. "We've got to pick up the pieces and get headed in a positive direction."
Marlins: Paulino may get another day off
After a string of 25 straight starts at catcher, Ronny Paulino might get a second straight day off from the lineup on Sunday. Brett Hayes started behind the plate for the Marlins on Saturday and went 0-for-2, however, Paulino pinch-hit for him with a two-run single in the ninth to bring Florida within a run. A day off on Sunday would give him a full week between starts because of the break.
D-backs: Johnson, LaRoche get rest
Two players were missing from the Arizona lineup on Saturday. Second baseman Kelly Johnson got a breather as he recovers from flu symptoms, while first baseman Adam LaRoche missed the game because of back stiffness. LaRoche has recorded a hit in seven straight appearances. Tony Abreu and Rusty Ryal recorded a hit each as replacements.
Worth noting
With the win on Saturday, the D-backs will go for their first series win against a National League opponent since June 11-13 against the Cardinals. They took two from Tampa Bay June 25-27. The Cardinals series was also the last time Arizona has won back-to-back games. ... The Marlins continue to struggle against NL West opponents. The loss Saturday dropped them to 8-15 this season.
The 21-year-old was brought up from Double-A Jacksonville on June 22 and has made three relief appearances. In his first start, he'll face another recent Double-A callup in Arizona right-hander Barry Enright, who will make his third start in the big leagues since getting brought up from Mobile.
Sanabia was a standout in Jacksonville, posting a 5-1 record in 14 starts. In 84 1/3 innings, he struck out 65 and walked 16. He previously was managed by Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez at Class A Greensboro, and now he'll be starting for Rodriguez in the Majors.
"I was a little surprised," Sanabia said. "I'm been fortunate, and I'm glad it happened."
In the three relief appearances, he's 0-1 with a 4.32 ERA and has allowed four earned runs and 10 hits in 8 1/3 innings. He has pitched multiple innings in each relief appearances, and the Marlins hope he can go five innings on Sunday.
As for Enright, he won his debut June 30 at St. Louis, giving up one run and four hits in five innings of a 4-2 win. He lasted 5 2/3 innings on Tuesday against the Cubs but allowed three runs and seven hits in a 6-4 loss.
He'll have the responsibility of trying to give the D-backs a semblance of momentum heading into the break. They've lost six of their past eight, but have a chance at taking the four-game series from the Marlins.
"It's not how anybody envisioned it going," D-backs interim manager Kirk Gibson said of the season. "We've got to pick up the pieces and get headed in a positive direction."
Marlins: Paulino may get another day off
After a string of 25 straight starts at catcher, Ronny Paulino might get a second straight day off from the lineup on Sunday. Brett Hayes started behind the plate for the Marlins on Saturday and went 0-for-2, however, Paulino pinch-hit for him with a two-run single in the ninth to bring Florida within a run. A day off on Sunday would give him a full week between starts because of the break.
D-backs: Johnson, LaRoche get rest
Two players were missing from the Arizona lineup on Saturday. Second baseman Kelly Johnson got a breather as he recovers from flu symptoms, while first baseman Adam LaRoche missed the game because of back stiffness. LaRoche has recorded a hit in seven straight appearances. Tony Abreu and Rusty Ryal recorded a hit each as replacements.
Worth noting
With the win on Saturday, the D-backs will go for their first series win against a National League opponent since June 11-13 against the Cardinals. They took two from Tampa Bay June 25-27. The Cardinals series was also the last time Arizona has won back-to-back games. ... The Marlins continue to struggle against NL West opponents. The loss Saturday dropped them to 8-15 this season.
