After Anibal Sanchez's four-inning, six-run stinker Saturday at Wrigley Field, Marlins starters have gone a franchise record 15 consecutive games without a win. Not since that forgettable 1998 season had a Marlins rotation gone as many as 13 straight winless outings.

The starters aren't solely responsible for this ugly run, but they've been less than stellar, going 0-6 with a 5.66 ERA and averaging just less than 5 2/3 innings per outing. The Marlins bullpen also has blown three save opportunities while logging a 5.44 ERA in 51 1/3 innings. The offense is batting .220, including a?.186 mark with runners in scoring position, and averaging 4.1 runs per game.

?We have to be more consistent and sometimes its a combination of everything," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "Sometimes its not hitting, and its tough to hold good teams down offensively. We havent been scoring runs. If we go out and score five or six the first couple of innings, it might change the outlook of the starter.

?

Here's a chart I put together looking at the longest winless rotation runs in franchise history:

?

Dates; Gms.; Record; ERA; Inn.; Hits; BB; K; Team rec.

Apr. 17-May 2, ?09; 15; 0-6; 5.66; 82.2; 90; 39; 66; 6-9

May 23-Jun. 8, 98; 14; 0-9; 4.97; 63.1; 82; 22; 41; 2-12

Aug. 28-Sept. 9, 08; 12; 0-5; 5.71; 63; 71; 23; 47; 5-7

May 2-14, 07; 12; 0-7; 3.80; 68.2; 70; 35; 32; 3-9

?

Who's most to blame? The starters for not consistently getting deep enough into games? The relievers for not holding enough leads? The hitters for not supplying enough early offense?

Newstex ID: 34611911