Florida @ Atlanta preview
Turner Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 28, 2010 ) Florida 2, Atlanta 3
While he didn't get the win, Tim Hudson gave the Atlanta Braves as good of an effort on three days' rest as they could have hoped for Monday. The club is seeking a repeat performance from Derek Lowe.
Lowe gets the call on three days' rest for the Braves today when they attempt to complete a three-game sweep of the Florida Marlins at Turner Field.
Starting a regular-season game on short rest for just the fourth time in his career, Hudson pitched better than could be expected, allowing just one run and seven hits while throwing 100 pitches over six innings. He left with the Braves trailing 1-0, but Eric Hinske belted a pinch-hit, two-run homer to cap a three-run seventh and help Atlanta to a 3-2 triumph.
The victory was the Braves' major league-best 54th at home and gave them a 1 1/2-game lead in the National League wild-card race over the San Diego Padres, who dropped a 5-2 decision to the Chicago Cubs.
Before the game, Atlanta learned it would have to fight for a playoff berth without Martin Prado, who suffered a torn left oblique during Monday's win and will miss the remainder of the season.
Hoping to follow Hudson's lead is Lowe, who has posted a 1.08 ERA while winning each of his last four starts. The veteran guided the Braves to a 5-0 victory at Washington on Saturday, scattering five hits over five innings.
Lowe is 6-4 with a 5.38 ERA in 19 career games - five relief appearances - against Florida but has not fared well vs. the Marlins this season. The right-hander surrendered four runs in 5 2/3 innings on July 23 and was tagged for five runs in three frames on Aug. 29 for a 9.35 ERA in two outings without a decision.
Marlins All-Star second baseman Dan Uggla, who reached the 100-RBI mark for the first time in his career Tuesday, is a lifetime .429 (12-for-28) hitter against Lowe with two home runs and seven RBIs.
In 16 starts at home this season, the 37-year-old Lowe is 9-5 with a 3.84 ERA.
Losers of five of their last six games, the Marlins will counter with a starter who has been the complete opposite of Lowe over his last four outings in Andrew Miller.
Miller has lost four straight starts, allowing 21 earned runs in 14 2/3 innings for a 12.89 ERA. The left-hander was reached for four runs and eight hits over just 4 1/3 frames of a 6-2 defeat at Milwaukee on Friday.
The 25-year-old has yet to lose to Atlanta in his brief career, however, going 3-0 with a 3.04 ERA in four starts and three relief efforts. He recorded his only win of the season at home against the Braves on Sept. 3, giving up one run and seven hits in five innings of a 6-1 triumph.
Miller has yet to complete six innings in six starts this year. In two road starts, he is 0-2 with an 11.88 ERA.
Florida, which has scored a total of four runs over its last three games, will have to try to generate offense for a while without Cameron Maybin. The center fielder, who gave the Marlins a 1-0 lead Tuesday with an RBI single in the third inning, suffered a strained lower back when he crashed into the wall attempting to catch Brooks Conrad's run-scoring triple in the seventh.