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Jul 22, 2010 - 10:26 PM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Atlanta (55-39) at Florida (46-48), 7:10 p.m. EDT

The Atlanta Braves aren't coming off their best homestand, but they'll still boast the top record in the NL as they begin a nine-game road trip Friday night.

The Florida Marlins, meanwhile, are hoping to do some damage against the East leaders during a three-game series this weekend as they try to get back into the division race.

Atlanta (56-39) may have preferred a better start to the second half than the 4-3 homestand it just completed, but the Braves were plenty satisfied with Thursday's 8-0 victory over San Diego. They won two of three in that series and left with a half-game edge on the West-leading Padres for the NL's best record.

Chipper Jones, who had three hits Thursday, said Atlanta's lineup reminds him of the 1995 Braves, who won the franchise's last World Series.

"You don't have guys leading the league in any category, but you have evenly distributed production up and down the lineup," Jones said. "More often than not, the teams with that kind of production are going to win a lot of games."

Alex Gonzalez and Jason Heyward each had two RBIs to help spark Thursday's victory, and Heyward went 7 for 15 in the series as the rookie rounds back into form following a thumb injury.

Gonzalez had four hits in the series finale, improving to 10 for 27 (.370) since being acquired from Toronto last week.

"It felt good," Gonzalez said. "I feel like part of the team. We've got to keep going."

The Marlins (47-48) are among the teams Atlanta must hold off to capture its first division title since 2005. Fourth-place Florida is nine games behind the Braves but has played well lately, winning five of six.

The Marlins took three of four from Colorado this week, with Ronny Paulino's walk-off RBI single sending them to a 3-2 victory Thursday. Another win would bring them back to .500 for the first time since they were 28-28 on June 4.

"This team is showing some character," manager Edwin Rodriguez said. "I like what I see."

The Marlins have held opponents to two or fewer runs in four of their last six games, and Alex Sanabia (1-1, 2.12 ERA) did his part Sunday. Making his second major league start, the 21-year-old right-hander worked 5 1-3 innings in a 1-0 win over Washington to pick up his first victory.

"You can tell he was a little bit nervous out there," Rodriguez said. "But it seems like he was comfortable pitching uncomfortable. He made his pitches when he had to."

Atlanta's starter, veteran Derek Lowe (10-8, 4.39), wasn't nearly as good Sunday but clinched his ninth consecutive 10-win season. He gave up three runs and eight hits in 5 1-3 innings of an 11-6 victory over Milwaukee to avoid losing a fourth straight start.

The Marlins haven't faced Lowe this year and haven't beaten the right-hander since 2007. However, since the start of 2008, he hasn't pitched more than five innings in any of his four starts against Florida, posting a 7.20 ERA.

Hanley Ramirez is 12 for 22 with six doubles against the sinkerballer, while Jorge Cantu has gone 7 for 11 with four doubles and a homer.

Atlanta has taken four of six from Florida this year, including two of three at Sun Life Stadium from May 25-27.