Atlanta @ Florida preview
Sun Life Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 3, 2010 ) Atlanta 1, Florida 6
The Atlanta Braves' hold on first place in the NL East continues to slip away. And the Florida Marlins still believe they can slide into the top spot before all is said and done.
The Marlins look to take another step upward on Saturday when they host the Braves in the middle contest of their three-game series.
After posting a five-game winning streak, Atlanta has dropped two in a row while the Philadelphia Phillies have won four straight contests and seven of eight. As a result, the Braves' lead over the Phillies in the NL East has dwindled to one game.
In the meantime, Florida has won three consecutive contests to move within nine of first place. The Marlins also trail the Phillies for the wild card by eight and begin a four-game series in Philadelphia on Monday.
Friday's victory was Florida's sixth in its last eight home games. Chad Tracy went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and rookie Logan Morrison tripled twice, scored two runs and drove in another as Andrew Miller posted his first victory since July 4, 2009.
Morrison joined Jesus Tavares as the only Marlins to record two triples in one game. Tavares accomplished the feat on August 28, 1995.
Atlanta will attempt to snap a four-game road losing streak with Jair Jurrjens, who has won three straight decisions and six of seven. On Monday, the right-hander allowed three runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 9-3 triumph over the New York Mets.
Jurrjens has made seven career starts against the Marlins, going 3-1 with a 4.50 ERA. He did not figure in the decision of a 5-4 loss at Florida on July 25 despite yielding four runs and six hits in seven innings.
Hanley Ramirez has fared well against Jurrjens over his career, going 6-for-20 (.300) with three home runs and five RBIs.
Jurrjens has been disappointing on the road this year. In nine starts, the 24-year-old is 0-4 with a 6.62 ERA.
Tonight he will be opposed by Josh Johnson, who has notched just one win in his last eight outings.
Johnson has faced the Braves twice previously this season without recording a decision but posting a 0.75 ERA. On Sunday, the 26-year-old allowed an unearned run and three hits in six innings as the Marlins suffered a 7-6 loss at Turner Field.
In 14 career games - including one relief appearance - against Atlanta, Johnson owns a 4-2 record and 2.44 ERA.
Johnson has been impressive at home this year, going 7-2 with a 1.48 ERA.
Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez returns to the dugout after serving the one-game suspension he received as a result of a benches-clearing brawl with the Washington Nationals on Wednesday. Bench coach Brandon Hyde filled in for Rodriguez on Friday.
Other Marlins who received suspensions were pitchers Chris Volstad (six games) and Alex Sanabia (five) along with first baseman Gaby Sanchez (three). All three appealed the bans, and Sanchez went 0-for-2 Friday with two walks and a run scored.