Lets Play Two

[Durango53]

GAME: Florida Marlins (12-8) at Colorado Rockies (6-13).

TIME: Thursday, Doubleheader, 1:05 p.m. and 4:05 p.m. EDT.

A.J. Burnett will attempt to cool off Clint Barmes' hot bat when he takes the mound for the Florida Marlins in the first game of their doubleheader with the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

The teams were supposed to play on Wednesday night, but heavy rain and snow forced the postponement. Burnett will pitch the first game and Travis Smith will start the second for the Marlins, while the Rockies will counter with right-handers Jason Jennings and Byung-Hyun Kim.

Burnett, who is almost two years removed from major arm surgery, has given the Marlins another dominant starter at the front end of their rotation. The hard-throwing right hander is 2-1 with a 2.40 ERA in four starts. He's tossed two complete games and has not allowed more than two earned runs in any start.

Burnett gave up two runs and four hits, and struck out a season-high 13 over six innings in Florida's 4-2 victory over Cincinnati on Friday, but did not get the decision.

The forecast is calling for more rain and snow Thursday which could keep Colorado's Barmes from adding to his gaudy April hitting numbers.

The 25-year-old shortstop is ranked second in the majors with a .421 average and is vying to become the third rookie - first since Montreal's Andres Galarraga in 1986 - to hit .400 in April. Barmes is also No. 2 in the NL in hits with 32, and is tied for second with 19 runs.

Barmes is also the first rookie in the expansion era (since 1961) to have four multi-hit games in April.

Not bad for someone who had 32 games of big-league experience heading into this season.

"It's already going to be one of the special months anybody has put up anytime, anywhere, anyplace," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said recently.

Colorado dropped the series opener 9-3 to Florida on Tuesday. Barmes was 0-for-3, ending his hitting streak at 10 games.

[Durango53]

Has Colorado right-hander Jason Jennings found the answers?

After a history of poor performances in April and struggles with pitch efficiency throughout his career, Jennings put it all together last Friday when he held the Los Angeles Dodgers to one run on 10 scattered hits in a 9-1, complete-game victory. It was the first time Jennings has gone the distance at Coors Field.

On Thursday, he'll meet a pitcher who has gone the distance twice already, Florida's A.J. Burnett, in the first game of a doubleheader.

In the second game, right-hander Byung-Hyun Kim, who started eight games over the past two seasons for Boston, will make his first Rockies start against Florida right-hander Travis Smith, making his first start as a Marlin.

[Durango53]

STANDINGS: Marlins - 1st place (tied), NL East. Rockies - 5th place, 6½ GB, NL West.

[Durango53]

MARLINS GAME ONE PROBABLE STARTER: Burnett (2-1, 2.40 ERA). Burnett is 2-2 with 30 strikeouts and a 2.40 ERA in four career starts against Colorado.

FLA: RHP A.J. Burnetthttp://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/150359.jpg
• 2-1, 2.40 ERA in 2005
• 1-0, 1.13 ERA vs. COL in 2004

COL: RHP Jason Jenningshttp://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/407298.jpg
• 1-2, 4.21 ERA in 2005
• 0-1, 6.55 ERA vs. FLA in 2004

ROCKIES GAME ONE PROBABLE STARTER: Jennings (1-2, 4.21 ERA). Jennings went the distance on Friday, scattering 10 hits in a 9-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The right-hander struck out six and walked two. He's 3-1 with a 3.23 ERA in five career starts against Florida.

[Durango53]

MARLINS GAME TWO PROBABLE STARTER: Smith (0-0, 0.00 ERA). The 32-year-old righty has made only one appearance this season, allowing one hit and striking out one in Florida's win over Colorado on Tuesday. Smith is 6-5 with a 6.54 ERA in 30 career appearances, including 14 starts.

FLA: RHP Travis Smithhttp://florida.marlins.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_134000.jpg
• 0-0, 0.00 ERA in 2005
• 0-0, 0.00 ERA vs. COL in 2005

COL: RHP Byung-Hyun Kimhttp://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_218294.jpg
• 0-3, 9.64 ERA in 2005
• Did not face FLA in 2004

ROCKIES GAME TWO PROBABLE STARTER: Kim (0-3, 9.64 ERA). Kim will be making his first start of the season following eight ineffective bullpen appearances, including two blown saves. Kim gave up three runs and two hits in an 8-6 loss to the Dodgers on Sunday. He's 4-2 with two saves in 16 career appearances, including two starts, against Florida.

[Durango53]

OFFENSIVE LEADERS: Marlins - Paul Lo Duca, .344 avg.; Miguel Cabrera and Juan Encarnacion, 3 HRs; Encarnacion, 20 RBIs; Luis Castillo, 16 runs and 3 SBs. Rockies - Barmes, .421 avg. and 19 runs; Barmes and Preston Wilson, 4 HRs and 15 RBIs; Barmes, Matt Holliday and Wilson, 2 SBs.

[Durango53]

SEASON SERIES: Marlins, 1-0.

[Durango53]

STREAKS AND NOTES: Marlins - Opponents are hitting only .219 against RHP Burnett. ... 1B Carlos Delgado scored the 900th run of his career Tuesday. ... C Lo Duca is batting .400 (10-for-25) with two home runs against RHP Jennings, but is only 1-for-12 lifetime against RHP Kim. Rockies - Hurdle wasn't at the ballpark for the second straight day on Wednesday because of flu-like symptoms. No timetable has been set for his return. ... RHP Kim has issued 11 walks in 9 1-3 innings. ... OF Juan Pierre is tied for the major league lead with four bunt singles.

[Durango53]

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Marlins - 4-2 on the road; Rockies - 5-6 at home

[Durango53]

Players to watch
Colorado first baseman Todd Helton is the only Rockies player with success against Burnett. He is 4-for-12 (.333) with three doubles in his career against him. Infielder Desi Relaford (.167) is the only other position player with as much as a hit off Burnett.

[Durango53]

Quotable
"Trying to trust the weatherman ... he gave us an hour and a half and it didn't work." -- Rockies acting manager Jamie Quirk on Tuesday night's attempt to play the snowed-out game against the Marlins, which basically burned the services of left-handed pitcher Joe Kennedy

[Durango53]

Quick hits
Colorado should pray for bad weather before the seventh inning, a frame in which the Rockies have been outscored 30-14 overall and 22-0 at Coors Field. ... Left fielder Matt Holliday entered play on Wednesday leading the Major Leagues with four triples. ... Manager Clint Hurdle, who missed Tuesday's game and was not at the park on Wednesday because of what the team described as "persistent flu-like symptoms," plans to attempt to manage on Thursday. However, he would have to be cleared by Rockies internist Dr. Allen Schreiber.

[Durango53]

On television
• COL: FSN Rocky Mountain
• FLA: FSN (first game only)

On radio
• COL: KOA 850 AM
• FLA: WQAM 560 AM; WQBA 1140 AM (Español)

[Durango53]

Marlins-Rockies Doubleheader Postponed

"We have been talking with the league about a doubleheader on Aug. 8, but nothing has been finalized," Colorado manager Clint Hurdle said

[yagsy]

Promises, Promises! You know, Shad, these "snow outs" are really messing me up with my baseball game teams! :duh:

[Durango53]

Ya got to hate it but we need the snow so bad that no one is talking to much bad against it. :D

[BPBlueSox]

Yeah, it's been like 30, freezing drizzle, flurries, etc all day. Good thing they called it off, no one may have shown up!

[Timberwolf]

I am glad the game was called off. It's a good thing for the Rox.