Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Atlanta Braves	0	0	2	3	0	0	1	3	0		9	12	0
Florida Marlins	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4		4	7	1

MIAMI --  Strong starting pitching from Tim Hudson and a big night at the plate from Gregor Blanco helped the Atlanta Braves hand the Florida Marlins a 9-4 defeat on Wednesday.

The top of the Atlanta order set the table for the Atlanta all night. Blanco's 4-for-5 performance included a two-run eighth inning triple, three RBI total and three runs scored. Yunel Escobar chipped a pair of run scoring doubles and drove home three runs on the evening.

Hudson (11-7) allowed just three hits and a walk while fanning five over six scoreless frames. Atlanta opted to pull their ace starter after just 68 pitches, when he felt what was described as tightness in his right elbow.

A strained left hamstring may keep Chipper Jones out of the line-up for a while. Jones pulled up lame after running out a grounder to end the fourth inning. Both Jones and Hudson will be evaluated further when the team reaches Philadelphia.

Florida attempted to come back in the ninth, scoring four times before Mike Gonzalez came in to quiet the rally. Luis Gonzalez launched a three-run homer off Buddy Carlyle that broke up the shut-out and made it a 9-3 game. Florida would score once more before Gonzalez got Hanley Ramirez to fly to center and end a 9-4 Braves win.

Ricky Nolasco (10-6) was charged with five runs on eight hits in five innings of work. The Braves tacked four more runs on the board against reliever Ryan Tucker.

The win give the Braves a 48-53 record this season, putting them six games behind the Phillies and Mets, who are tied atop the National League East.

On Deck:
The Braves will have a day off on Thursday before beginning a three-game weekend series against the East leading Phillies. Jair Jurrjens will take on Kyle Kendrick in the opener on Friday. Game time is set for 7:05 PM EST.
 
 

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Atlanta Braves	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	1	1
Florida Marlins	0	0	0	3	0	1	0	0	X		4	4	0

MIAMI -- Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox spent the evening watching his club take one on the chin Tuesday, but he did so from the visiting clubhouse. With their manager serving a one-game suspension, the Braves managed just one hit in a 4-0 loss to the Florida Marlins.

Braves starter Charlie Morton (2-3) allowed just two hits, but four walks and some timely hitting by the Marlins made him pay. Mike Jacobs collected the first Florida hit in the fourth, a towering three-run homer that gave Florida a 3-0 lead. 

"It is a learning process," said Morton of his start and the pitch Jacobs took out of the park. "I'm learning where I can get away with throwing pitches. It wasn't a good pitch - it just wasn't."

Royce Ring issued a bases loaded walk to John Baker in the sixth inning to close the book on Morton, who allowed four earned on the night.

Marlins starter Rick VandenHurk (1-1), making his first start since being recalled from Double-A Carolina, threw five hitless innings to pick up his first win since August 23, 2007. The righty from the Netherlands walked five and struck out seven.

Chipper Jones stroked single off Marlins reliever Joe Nelson to open the sixth inning, in what would prove to be the only Atlanta hit on the night.

There was some good news on the injury front for Atlanta. Rafael Soriano pitched for the first time since June 5, when elbow inflamation forced the righty reliever to the disabled list. Soriano hit 93 mph with his fastball and struck out two in a scoreless seventh inning.

Shortstop Yunel Escobar avoided a trip to the disabled list of his own, making his first start since July 9 and going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. He had been nursing inflammation in his left shoulder.

Prior to the game, utility infielder Omar Infante was activated from the 15-day DL and Brent Lillibridge was optioned to Triple-A Richmond to make room on the roster.

On Deck:
The Braves send Tim Hudson to the mound seeking his 11th win of the season. Florida will counter with Ricky Nolasco. Game time is set for 7:10 PM EST.

 

MIAMI -- Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox was given a one game suspension for what Major League Baseball deemed "inappropriate conduct and comments," after being ejected from Sunday's 15-6 loss the Washington Nationals. Cox will serve that suspension as the Braves play the Florida Marlins on Tuesday.

Homeplate umpire Chris Guccione ejected Cox from the game for arguing balls and strikes in the third inning. Guccione was walking toward the mound and appeared to be waving his finger at Braves reliever Buddy Carlyle, who was clearly upset with a ball four call, when Cox came out to plead his case.

Cox was immediately ejected, but stayed on the field for nearly two minutes to address Guccione. The Atlanta manager left the field but did not depart from the dugout until Guccione stopped play a second time and ordered him to leave.

Braves bench coach Chino Cadahia will serve as the acting manager against Florida on Tuesday.

 

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Atlanta Braves	0	1	0	0	2	0	0	0	1		4	9	0
Florida Marlins	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	2	0

MIAMI -- It is a roadtrip that may tell the tale of the 2008 season for the Atlanta Braves, and it started on the right note Monday. Jorge Campillo threw seven scoreless innings as the Braves shut-out the Florida Marlins by a 4-0 final score.

The quick and easy two-hour and 24 minute contest got the Braves off on the right foot on this six game road swing that begins against the Marlins and then moves to Philadelphia on Friday. 

Atlanta got on the board against rookie right-hander Chris Volstad in the top of the second, when Mark Kotsay singled home Mark Teixeira to make it 1-0 Atlanta. It was all Campillo from there.

The Marlins managed just two hits in seven innigns against Campillo (5-4), who walked one and struck out six in earning his second consecutive victory.

Volstad (2-1) was handed the first loss of his Major League career, though he did not pitch poorly. The 21-year old surrendered three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out three.

Atlanta gave Campillo some breathing room in the fifth, as Chipper Jones and Teixeira each drove home a run to make it 3-0. Martin Prado chipped in a run-scoring pinch-hit double in the ninth to account for the other scoring.

On Deck:
These two teams will go at it again on Tuesday, with the Braves sending rookie Charlie Morton to the mound to do battle with Rick VandenHurk of Florida. Game time is set for 7:10 PM EST.