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Murphy's game-winning single lifts Marlins

Jul 24, 2010 - 4:07 AM MIAMI(AP) -- It has been a wild week for Donnie Murphy.

Four days after hitting a game-ending homer to beat Colorado, he followed it up with a game-winning hit against Atlanta on Friday night.

"It's a crazy week, that's for sure," said Murphy, who had just three at-bats before Monday.

His single lifted the Marlins to a 7-6 victory over the Braves for their sixth win in seven games.

Jose Veras (2-0) earned the win despite squandering the lead in the ninth inning for the Marlins. Billy Wagner (5-1) took the loss, blowing his fourth save in 26 chances.

"They're scrappy, they find a good way to do it," Wagner said. "You can't give them opportunities to do it. That's exactly what I did."

It was the third walk-off victory for the Marlins in five games as they reached the .500 mark for the first time since June 4.

"I would say one walk-off is very important, if you put three together in one week - the confidence of this team is way up there," Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez said.

Wagner loaded the bases in the ninth with one out. He struck out Dan Uggla before a passed ball by Brian McCann allowed the Marlins to tie the game with Murphy batting. Murphy drove a 2-1 pitch from Wagner into center field for the victory.

"Right away I saw it go past him instead of the home run the other day where I didn't know it was going to go far enough," Murphy said. "Right out of the box, I was pumped."

McCann homered and drove in four runs for the Braves, including an RBI single in the ninth to tie the game. Matt Diaz was hit by a pitch to give the Braves the lead.

However, McCann's passed ball proved to be costly.

"I don't know how I didn't catch that ball. The play has to be made," McCann said.

Sanchez hit a solo homer in the seventh to give the Marlins a 5-4 lead after McCann hit a three-run shot in the top of the inning to tie the game.

Uggla also homered for the Marlins and Bryan Petersen delivered a two-run pinch hit single.

"We still want to make a push at this thing," Uggla said. "I know we are still a ways back, but you never know what can happen."

Braves starter Derek Lowe allowed four runs in 5 2-3 innings.

Alex Sanabia allowed one run in 4 1-3 innings in his third start for the Marlins.

Notes: The game was delayed 13 minutes in the top of the ninth due to rain. ... SS Alex Gonzalez is hitting .375 (12-of-32) since the Braves acquired him in a trade with Toronto on July 14. ... Petersen was hitless in his last 17 at-bats prior in his pinch-hit single and just 1-for-18 on the season. It was his first hit since May 17. ... Marlins All-Star SS Hanley Ramirez has gone 16 games without an extra base hit and Rodriguez thinks his star is suffering from fatigue. "A little bit has to be because he's tired and because he's tired, his swing is a little bit long," Rodriguez said. "His swing is a little bit slow at this point and then the home run derby at the all-star game, I think helps influence how he's swinging right now."