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Marlins-Braves Preview

Aug 22, 2009 - 6:48 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Florida (65-57) at Atlanta (64-58), 7:10 p.m. EDT

With Hanley Ramirez leading the way, the Florida Marlins are moving closer to their first playoff berth in six years.

Ramirez looks to extend the longest hitting streak of his career and help the Marlins win the first two of this key three-game series against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday at Turner Field.

Florida (65-57) and Atlanta (64-58) entered this series tied in the standings, four games back of wild card-leading Colorado. With the Marlins' 5-3 victory Friday coupled with the Rockies' loss to San Francisco, Florida pulled within three games of that spot.

The opener didn't actually end until early Saturday morning as both teams had to wait through a 2 hour, 28 minute rain delay with one out in the top of the ninth.

"You hate to sit around for two hours before you get anything started but the fact of the matter is that all these games really, really matter," said Atlanta's Chipper Jones, had an infield single in the seventh to end an 0-for-18 drought.

While Jones has been slumping, Ramirez continued his torrid clip with three hits - including a two-run homer - to extend his career-best hitting streak to 16 games. The two-time All-Star shortstop is batting .461 with three home runs, seven doubles and 16 RBIs during his run and is hitting .391 with four homers and nine RBIs in his last six games against Atlanta.

"It seems like every time we get a win, he's in the middle of it," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said of Ramirez, who leads the NL with a .360 batting average. "He's playing well. He's swinging the bat good. He's just doing a nice job."

The Marlins, who haven't been to the postseason since winning the 2003 World Series, have won 10 of 14.

The Braves, meanwhile, have split their last eight games after winning seven of their previous eight.

All of Atlanta's offense in the series opener came on a three-run homer from Adam LaRoche. The first baseman is 9 for 18 with four home runs, eight RBIs and seven runs in his last five games.

Tommy Hanson (8-2, 3.05 ERA) looks to continue his strong rookie season and help Atlanta even the series when he takes the ball Saturday.

The right-hander allowed two runs, six hits and no walks with seven strikeouts in six innings of a 9-4 win over Arizona on Monday, improving to 5-1 with a 2.43 ERA in his last six home starts. He has also posted a 2.41 ERA in winning all three of his starts this month.

"I still feel strong and everything feels good," said Hanson, who has struck out 16 while walking none in 12 2-3 innings over his last two outings. "Hopefully if I can just keep going like I have been everything will be fine."

This will be his first career start against the Marlins, who counter with Chris Volstad (9-9, 4.61).

Volstad allowed one run, four hits and four walks in five innings of a 10-3 win over Colorado on Sunday - his first victory since July 26 - after yielding 13 runs over nine innings in his previous two outings.

Despite some of Volstad's recent struggles, the Marlins have won five of the right-hander's last six starts. He has been aided by an offense that has backed him with an average of more than eight runs of support in that span.

Volstad hasn't faced the Braves since April 14, when he gave up one run and three hits in seven innings of a 5-1 victory in Atlanta.