Giants-Marlins Preview

5/25/2008 1:06 AM

By DAN PIERINGER
STATS Writer

The first rainout at Dolphin Stadium in nearly four years may have frustrated baseball fans in Miami, but it also set the stage for a historic Sunday for San Francisco Giants shortstop Omar Vizquel.

Vizquel can tie and break Luis Aparicio's major-league record for games played at shortstop as the Giants play a doubleheader against the Florida Marlins on Sunday.

Vizquel has played 2,582 games at shortstop during his 20-year career. Because of Saturday's downpour that caused the postponement of a game at Dolphin Stadium for the first time since Hurricane Frances hit in September 2004, Vizquel can use Sunday's doubleheader to surpass the record total of Aparicio - a fellow native of Venezuela who played from 1956-73 with the Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox.

While it's assumed Vizquel will break the record within the next few days, there's a possibility the 41-year-old won't do it Sunday. Vizquel said he plans to play in opener of the twin bill, and then would talk to Giants manager Bruce Bochy before deciding whether or not to play in the second game. He even suggested he could start the second game and come out after an inning.

"I'm more concerned about my knee than the record," said Vizquel, who was activated from the disabled list on May 10 after missing all of spring training and the start of the season following off-season arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. "At this moment, my knee and being able to play all season is most important."

While Vizquel was characteristically reluctant to discuss his pending accomplishment, Bochy wasn't shy.

"It's a historic moment," Bochy said. "He's excited, and we are, too. I'm proud of Omar, and I'm proud to say I'm here for it."

Breaking the record would add to Vizquel's already impressive resume. He's an 11-time Gold Glove winner who owns the major-league record for most double plays (1,660) as a shortstop and the highest lifetime fielding percentage (.984) for players with at least 1,000 games at the position. He's also the majors' active career hits leader with 2,609.

He hopes to add to that total against Florida's opening-game starter Mark Hendrickson (6-2, 3.72 ERA), against whom he's 7-for-13 with five doubles and a walk.

Hendrickson held Arizona to one run in five innings while striking out a season-high seven in a 3-2 win on Tuesday, and the Marlins (27-20) improved to 7-3 in games started by the left-hander.

Hendrickson is 1-1 with a 3.09 ERA in seven career games - four starts - against San Francisco.

He'll match up against Matt Cain (2-3, 4.57), who will try to get the Giants (20-29) their season-high fourth straight win.

Cain got roughed up by the Chicago White Sox on Sunday, allowing six runs and six hits - including four homers - in seven innings of the Giants' 13-8 loss.

"I don't ever want to talk about negative things. I'm trying to stay confident and will keep trying to throw quality strikes," Cain, who did not allow a hit through the first 4 1-3 innings, told the Giants' official Web site. "This game is super humbling. You're pitching great for an inning or two and then it all blows up on you."

The right-hander is 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in two career starts against the Marlins.

Left-hander Pat Misch (0-0, 5.27) will start the second game for the Giants. He gave up three runs in 5 1-3 innings of San Francisco's 4-3 loss at Colorado on Monday, and still hasn't appeared in a Giants win in five games - four starts - this year.

Misch has made one relief appearance against Florida, getting one out.

The Marlins have not announced a starter for the second game, but the assignment will likely fall to either Burke Badenhop (1-3, 6.75) or Logan Kensing (3-0, 3.80) - both right-handers.