=== Florida Marlins Team Report - August 2 ===

(My Sportsbook) - The series will be on the line this afternoon at Pro Player Stadium, when the Marlins and the Houston Astros finish up their three-game set.

Florida got even in the series on Saturday with a 5-2 victory that pulled it within two games of wild card leader Philadelphia. The Phillies split a doubleheader with San Diego on Saturday.

Mike Lowell belted a three-run homer and Ivan Rodriguez went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for Florida in the winning effort on Saturday. Alex Gonzalez also homered for the Marlins, who have won 10 of their last 12 contests. Gonzalez' homer was his first in 35 games.

Lowell became the fourth player in Marlins history to reach the 30-home run plateau in a season. Gary Sheffield (1996), Preston Wilson (2002) and Cliff Floyd (2001) are the other players to achieve the feat while with Florida.

Carl Pavano (8-10) pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on three hits in the win. Pavano also struck out three and walked three to match his career high in wins. Braden Looper tossed a perfect ninth for his 22nd save of the season.

Florida has won nine of its last 10 at home and is 16-4 in Miami since June 19. For the year, the Marlins own a 35-22 mark at Pro Player Stadium.

The Marlins bullpen has not allowed a run in six straight games, a span of 16 1/3 innings.

Florida will send veteran lefty Mark Redman to the mound this afternoon. Redman has won two straight decisions and four of his last five overall, including a victory over Arizona on Monday. The southpaw limited the Diamondbacks to just six hits and two runs over 7 1/3 innings, while fanning five and walking two. Redman has given up no more than three earned runs in five of his last six starts.

Redman will be facing Houston for the first time in his career. The hurler has been quite successful in South Florida this season, posting a 5-2 home mark with a 2.62 ERA in 10 games.

The Astros swept a three-game set from the Marlins at Minute Maid Park May 2-4. Houston has won six of the last eight meetings.