(My Sportsbook) - The Florida Marlins have been cooled off since their hot start to the season and will try to catch fire again in Friday's opener of a three-game home series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Florida was just swept in three games by the Pittsburgh Pirates after winning seven straight for a sizzling 11-1 start. The Pirates completed the sweep with Wednesday's 7-4 victory at PNC Park, as Adam LaRoche led the way with four hits, including three doubles, an RBI and two runs scored.

Hanley Ramirez went 2-for-4 with two runs scored for the Marlins, who got an RBI apiece from Wes Helms, Ronny Paulino, Cody Ross and starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco.

Nolasco (1-2) gave up six runs -- five earned -- on eight hits in six innings to absorb the loss. The right-hander fanned five and walked three.

After the Marlins host Philadelphia at Dolphin Stadium, the division-rival New York Mets will pay a visit to Miami for three games.

Josh Johnson will take the mound for Florida on Friday and he is 2-0 with a 2.91 ERA in three starts this season. Johnson won his first two starts of the season versus the Nationals and Mets, but did not factor in the outcome of a 9-6 win at Washington his last time out on Saturday.

Johnson was reached for six runs and six hits in six innings of work and struck out six batters while issuing a pair of walks. The right-hander has faced the Phillies seven times in his career (5 starts) and is 3-1 with a 4.45 earned run average.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel stated earlier this week that his team may be battling through a "championship hangover". Whether Manuel is right or not, Philadelphia has struggled to a 6-8 record this season and has dropped two straight and five of its last seven games.

The Phils just lost two of three to the Milwaukee Brewers at home, including Thursday's 6-1 loss in the series finale in which Brewers starter Dave Bush pitched 7 1/3 innings of no-hit ball until Matt Stairs drilled a home run off of the right-field foul pole.

Phillies starting pitcher and 2008 World Series MVP Cole Hamels left the game in the fourth inning after being hit on the left shoulder by a Prince Fielder line drive. Hamels (0-2), who was diagnosed with a left shoulder contusion, gave up two runs on four hits to go along with six strikeouts in a losing cause.

J.A. Happ allowed three runs in relief of Hamels and Shane Victorino provided the other hit for Philadelphia, which will send Brett Myers to the hill tonight against the Marlins. Myers is 1-1 with a 5,03 ERA in three trips to the bump this season and did not record a decision Saturday versus San Diego.

In an 8-5 loss to the Padres, Myers, who split his first two outings of the campaign, was reached for three runs and six hits through 6 2/3 innings. The fiery right-hander is very familiar with the Marlins, having made 28 appearances (22 starts) against them and posting a 6-10 mark with a 5.58 ERA in those games.

Florida won 10 of the 18 matchups with Philadelphia a year ago, but the Phillies are riding a two-game winning streak in the series.