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Braves-Marlins Preview

Jul 24, 2010 - 5:12 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Atlanta (56-39) at Florida (47-48), 7:10 p.m. EDT

The Florida Marlins still have a lot of work to do to catch the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves, but they're heading in the right direction.

The Marlins will try to move above .500 for the first time since early June when they continue their three-game series with the Braves on Saturday night.

After giving up two runs in the top of the ninth, Florida (48-48) scored twice in the bottom half for a 7-6 victory in the series opener Friday. Emilio Bonifacio scored the tying run on a passed ball by Brian McCann before Donnie Murphy's RBI single gave the Marlins their sixth victory in seven games.

Florida, which trails Atlanta (56-40) by eight games, will try to move above .500 for the first time since it was 28-27 on June 3.

"We just have to keep it rolling. We're making some ground up," said Murphy, who hit a two-run walkoff homer in a 9-8 win over Colorado on Monday. "We know (Atlanta is) the top dog now. We're just trying to win this series and make ground up on them."

The Braves, who hold a six-game lead in the division over Philadelphia and are one-half game behind San Diego for the NL's best record, will look to bounce back with Kris Medlen (6-2, 3.31 ERA) on the mound.

Atlanta has been resting the right-hander, who has four relief appearances since his last start, a 7-5 victory at Philadelphia on July 7 in which he gave up four runs in 6 2-3 innings.

"You can only run so much to keep up your stamina," Medlen told the Braves' official website. "It's the throwing part. We'll have to see what 17 days (between starts) has done to that."

Medlen took the loss in his last appearance, allowing a two-run double in the 12th inning of a 6-4 defeat to the Padres on Wednesday.

He has a 5.04 ERA in those last four relief appearances but is 5-0 with a 3.41 ERA in 11 starts this season, with the Braves winning 10 of those outings.

Medlen allowed one run over 6 1-3 innings in a 4-3, 11-inning victory over the Marlins on July 2.

Florida will counter with Anibal Sanchez (7-6, 3.62), who has given up two earned runs or fewer in his last eight home starts. The right-hander went six innings in Monday's victory, allowing four runs - two earned - and eight hits.

Sanchez is 1-1 with a 4.38 ERA in two starts against Atlanta in 2010. He allowed two runs and five hits over 6 1-3 innings of a 6-4 win at home May 25.

McCann, who had a tying three-run homer in the seventh and made it 5-all in the ninth with a single Friday, is batting .333 with three homers and 11 RBIs in his last four games. He is 8 for 22 with a home run lifetime against Sanchez.

Braves shortstop Alex Gonzalez went 2 for 5 and is batting .375 since being acquired from Toronto on July 14.

Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez has not fared as well lately, going 16 straight games without an extra-base hit. The reigning NL batting champ is 4 for 6 with a homer in his career against Medlen.