Final
Marlins-Braves Preview
Sep 30, 2009 - 5:19 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS WriterFlorida (83-74) at Atlanta (86-70), 7:10 p.m. EDT
The Atlanta Braves' stunning September surge into contention has featured two seven-game winning streaks, but their failure to extend either to eight may wind up coming back to haunt them.
Now three games back in the NL wild-card race with five to play, the increasingly desperate Braves try to bounce back and avoid their first consecutive losses in more than three weeks Wednesday night in the finale of a three-game set with the visiting Florida Marlins.
Atlanta (86-71) pulled within 4 1/2 games of wild card-leading Colorado with a seven-game winning streak Sept. 10-17. After losing two of three to Philadelphia, the Braves began another seven-game run Sept. 21.
That streak pushed the Braves to within two of the Rockies with six to play heading into Tuesday's games, but for the second time this month, manager Bobby Cox's team couldn't make it eight straight victories. Matt Diaz's three-run homer tied the score at 4 in the sixth inning, but Florida (84-74) responded with a run in the seventh en route to a 5-4 win at Turner Field.
"We almost pulled it off," Cox said. "We had the bases loaded. We had a couple chances. Anything can happen."
Unfortunately for Cox and the Braves, their deficit didn't remain two games. Milwaukee scored three times in the ninth inning to pull even with Colorado at 5-all Tuesday night, but Chris Iannetta's two-run homer gave the Rockies a 7-5 win in 11 innings.
"We'll come tomorrow ready to play," Diaz said of the Braves, who haven't dropped two in a row since a five-game skid Sept. 2-6.
Colorado's win did more than just hurt Atlanta. Two hours after winning to keep themselves alive in the playoff race, the Marlins were officially eliminated with the Rockies' walkoff victory.
"We just want to finish strong," said Marlins infielder Jorge Cantu, hitting .423 over his last six games. "Whatever happens, we have a winning record. I'm proud of this team. We had a lot of players who came through for us."
The Braves should feel good about their chances to bounce back Wednesday in the likely final start of the season for Javier Vazquez (15-9, 2.83 ERA).
The right-hander has won five straight decisions and has been brilliant in winning four consecutive starts. Vazquez has a 0.84 ERA since Sept. 8, most recently allowing three hits and striking out seven in a 4-1, complete-game win Friday at Washington.
"Just another normal Vazquez start," Cox told the Braves' official Web site. "He wasn't hit very hard at all tonight. That was normal for Javier. He's finishing extremely strong."
Vazquez hasn't been too impressive against the Marlins. He's 0-2 with a 5.68 ERA in four starts versus Florida in 2009. He's been hit hardest by Ross Gload, who's 5 for 9 this season and 15 for 32 (.469) in his career against Vazquez.
Ricky Nolasco (12-9, 5.28) gets the ball for the Marlins looking for a third straight quality outing. He gave up three runs and four hits while striking out seven over seven innings Friday against the New York Mets, but didn't get a decision in a 6-5 loss.
Nolasco is 2-4 with a 5.02 lifetime ERA versus Atlanta. Chipper Jones is batting .478 with four homers against Nolasco, while Brian McCann is hitting .357 with four homers and Diaz is a .538 career hitter in their matchups.
Florida has won nine of 17 meetings with the Braves this season, and with a victory can clinch its first season series against Atlanta since 2003.
- Braves 4, Marlins 5 - FINAL
FLORIDA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Coghlan lf 5 1 1 0 0 1 2 .318
C Maybin cf 5 1 2 0 0 0 0 .241
H Ramirez ss 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .341
J Cantu 3b-1b 5 2 3 1 0 1 3 .288
R Gload 1b 5 1 1 2 0 2 6 .259
L Nunez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -
B Donne
Sep 30 10:12 PM - NL
AT ATLANTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY OMAR INFANTE SCORED YUNEL ESCOBAR
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, O INFANTE ON FIRST, M DIAZ ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: FLORIDA 5
ATLANTA 4 BOTTOM,9TH
DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: N MCLOUTH (.258, 0-FOR-3, BB)
Marlins 5, Braves 4 Bot 9, 0 OutsSep 30 10:04 PM - NL
AT ATLANTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY YUNEL ESCOBAR SCORED BRIAN MCCANN
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, Y ESCOBAR ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: FLORIDA 5
ATLANTA 3 BOTTOM,9TH
DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: A LAROCHE (.285, 2-FOR-3, 2 RBI)
Marlins 5, Braves 3 Bot 9, 0 OutsSep 30 9:59 PM - NL
AT ATLANTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY ADAM LAROCHE SCORED YUNEL ESCOBAR AND GARRET
ANDERSON
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, A LAROCHE ON FIRST, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: FLORIDA 5
ATLANTA 2 BOTTOM,7TH
DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: M DIAZ (.314, 0-FOR-1, BB)
Marlins 5, Braves 2 Bot 7, 0 OutsSep 30 9:16 PM - NL
AT ATLANTA - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY ROSS GLOAD (6) TO CENTER WITH 2 OUT IN
THE 5TH OFF JAVIER VAZQUEZ SCORED JORGE CANTU.
CURRENT SCORE: FLORIDA 5, ATLANTA 0
DUE UP FOR FLORIDA: D UGGLA (.242, 1-FOR-2, RBI)
Marlins 5, Braves 0 Top 5, 0 OutsSep 30 8:31 PM - NL
AT ATLANTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY DAN UGGLA SCORED JORGE CANTU
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, D UGGLA ON FIRST, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: FLORIDA 3
ATLANTA 0 TOP,3RD
DUE UP FOR FLORIDA: R PAULINO (.276, 1-FOR-1)
Marlins 3, Braves 0 Top 3, 0 OutsSep 30 7:58 PM - NL
AT ATLANTA - SCORING UPDATE
WILD PITCH BY JAVIER VAZQUEZ ALLOWED CAMERON MAYBIN TO
SCORE.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J CANTU ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: FLORIDA 2
ATLANTA 0 TOP,3RD
DUE UP FOR FLORIDA: R GLOAD (.259, 0-FOR-1)
Marlins 2, Braves 0 Top 3, 0 OutsSep 30 7:56 PM - NL
AT ATLANTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JORGE CANTU SCORED CHRIS COGHLAN
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J CANTU ON FIRST, C MAYBIN ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: FLORIDA 1
ATLANTA 0 TOP,3RD
DUE UP FOR FLORIDA: R GLOAD (.259, 0-FOR-1)
Marlins 1, Braves 0 Top 3, 0 OutsSep 30 7:54 PM
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