Tim Lincecum deservingly gets the notoriety, but don't overlook the season Josh Johnson has put together pitching in near anonymity in Florida. An 11-2 record, a 2.92 ERA, and 129 strikeouts is just a start. He's 4-0 with a 3.31 ERA in his last five starts, and at home he's been virtually unbeatable of late, as the Marlins have won each of his last six outings at Land Shark Stadium, a stretch in which the righthander has personally gone 3-0 with a 3.08 ERA.
Johnson is 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA in two starts against tonight's opponent, Colorado, including a May 9 victory in which he allowed one run in eight innings.
The Rockies arrive in South Florida on their own hot streak, having won five of six, and their pitcher, Jason Hammel, seeks his third straight victory. However, looks can be deceiving as Hammel allowed 20 hits and six runs over 11.2 innings in winning his last two starts. And prior to that, the righthander was 0-3 with a 5.76 ERA in his previous six outings.
Florida returned home from a three-game road sweep of division-leading Philadelphia and promptly took three of four from visiting Houston. The Marlins have been hot at the plate with at least 10 hits in 10 consecutive games, and they've scored six or more runs in their last six contests, a stretch in which they've gone 5-1 overall while averaging 8.3 runs.
Throw out a three-game sweep at the hands of the visiting Phillies in mid-July, and this Florida team has otherwise won 17 of 21 at home. With its offense in high gear, and a decided advantage in the pitching department with Johnson, laying the 1 1/2 runs makes the Marlins a plus-money proposition tonight.
Al DeMarco 8/14
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