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Uggla extends hit streak, Braves top Marlins

Aug 9, 2011 - 5:13 AM Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Dan Uggla extended his hitting streak to 29 games and Alex Gonzalez belted a three-run homer in Atlanta's 8-5 triumph over the Florida Marlins.

Uggla walked in the first inning and grounded out to pitcher Brad Hand in the second before running the count full leading off the fifth. He then hit a slow bouncer to shortstop Emilio Bonifacio, whose throw to first was a tad late. Chipper Jones then singled and Gonzalez cranked his 10th homer of the season, a shot to left for a 7-2 lead.

In the following inning, Uggla lofted a sacrifice fly to drive in Michael Bourn.

The second baseman has the longest active hit streak in the majors and is one shy of the season-high, set by Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier. The current career-best hitting streak by Uggla is also tied for the second- longest in Atlanta history with Rowland Office (1976). Rico Carty has the record of 31 games, set in 1970.

"I'm just going up and trying to hit the ball hard," Uggla said. "I'm just trying to get on base to get a chance to score. That's all I'm trying to do."

Freddie Freeman had a two-run single as part of the offensive explosion for the National League wild card leaders, who backed Derek Lowe's six innings. Lowe (7-10) scattered six hits and allowed two runs to snap a three-start losing streak.

Hand (1-4), who lost to the Braves, 1-0, in his major league debut on June 7, was charged with nine hits and seven runs over five frames.

Greg Dobbs homered in the eighth inning and John Buck smacked a two-run blast off Scott Proctor in the ninth for the Marlins, who lost their fifth straight game.

After Buck's one-out blast to right field, Proctor walked pinch-hitter Brett Hayes. Craig Kimbrel threw a wild pitch, but fanned the next two batters to end the game and notch his 35th save.

The Marlins loaded the bases with one out in the opening inning, but Gaby Sanchez grounded into a double play with Jones stepping on third base and firing across the diamond.

"We had the opportunity, but we just didn't cash in," Marlins manager Jack McKeon said. "We had the guys up there that we wanted. It was tough. I thought we were going to break the game open in the first inning."

Lowe admitted that may have been the turning point of the contest.

"The call of the night was clearly the sinker into Gaby Sanchez in the first inning," Lowe said. "To be able to get a big double play there gives you confidence. That was the pitch of the whole game."

A four-run second put Atlanta on top in the opener of this three-game set. David Ross walked and Jose Constanza singled to left field. After Lowe's successful sacrifice bunt, Bourn hit a grounder up the middle that was stopped by second baseman Alfredo Amezaga. But his momentum prevented a play at first and the throw to third was late as Constanza slid back safely. Martin Prado then hit a ground-rule double over the head of center fielder Mike Cameron.

Freeman, who had a 20-game hitting streak broken in a 6-5 win over the Mets Sunday, lined a base hit to center field for a four-run advantage.

Florida loaded the bases with nobody out in the next inning, including Hand's first major league hit. A one-out walk to Mike Stanton on a low pitch forced in the first run and Sanchez followed with an RBI groundout to second, but Cameron popped out to keep it a 4-2 game.

Game Notes

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez was ejected by home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt in the fourth inning for arguing balls and strikes...Freeman was ejected by Wendelstedt after arguing a checked swing, which resulted in a strikeout to end the top of the eighth...Lowe is 8-4 lifetime against the Marlins...Atlanta has won seven of its 10 meetings with the Marlins this season...Florida has posted a .207 (67-for-323) batting average against the Braves this season, which is currently the lowest single-season average vs. Atlanta in club history. In 1998, the Fish posted a .224 average.