(Sports Network) - Former first-round draft pick Andrew Miller makes his 2010 major league debut today when the Florida Marlins go for the home sweep of the Houston Astros in the finale of a three-game series at Sun Life Stadium.
Florida won game two, 6-3, on Saturday, their 10th win in 11 home meetings with Houston, when Chris Volstadpitched into the seventh inning and the Marlins got two RBI apiece from Gaby Sanchez, Cody Ross and Wes Helms.
Volstad (7-9) gave up five hits, two runs, walked three and fanned six batters for Florida, which took the opener, 9-0, on Friday. Ross and Helms had back- to-back triples for the Marlins, who have captured a season-high five in a row.
Wandy Rodriguez (9-12) fanned 10 batters over six frames, but yielded seven hits and three runs -- two earned -- and lost for the first time in seven starts. The left-hander had won six of his last seven decisions.
Carlos Lee had a two-run single in the first inning for the Astros, who have lost six consecutive road games.Angel Sanchez singled in a run in the ninth inning off closer Leo Nunez. Houston had runners at first and third, but Hunter Pence struck out to end the game.
For the southpaw Miller, the appearance is the 71st in a career that began when he was the sixth overall selection in the 2006 draft by the Detroit Tigers.
He won five games in 13 starts with the Tigers in 2007, then came to Florida and was 6-10 and 3-5 in consecutive seasons over 49 games -- 34 starts.
Miller had spent the initial portion of this season with Double-A Jacksonville, where he was 1-8 with a 6.01 earned run average in 18 games. He takes the roster spot of reliever Taylor Tankersley, who was 0-0 with a 7.50 ERA in 27 games with the Marlins.
Miller lost his lone career start against the Astros after allowing eight hits and five runs in five innings.
Houston counters with journeyman righty Nelson Figueroa, who starts for the second time this season with the Astros after eight appearances from the bullpen.
The 36-year-old Brooklyn native began the season with Philadelphia and was 3-1 with a save in 13 appearances before coming to the Astros in time for a July 23 relief outing against Cincinnati.
He made his first start for Houston on Aug. 17 and pitched five innings of two-run ball against the New York Mets in a game the Astros eventually won, 4-3.
Figueroa is 1-2 lifetime against the Marlins in eight appearances -- three starts.
Houston took two of three from the Marlins back in April.