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Morrison triples twice, Marlins beat Braves 6-1

Sep 4, 2010 - 2:49 AM By TIM REYNOLDS AP Sports Writer

MIAMI(AP) -- Whenever Florida left fielder Logan Morrison hits the ball hard toward a gap, he starts thinking about turning it into a triple.

There's typically just one flaw in that plan.

"I'm not the fleetest of foot," Morrison said.

The Braves might argue that one. Morrison hit two stand-up RBI triples, Andrew Miller battled through five innings for his first win in more than a year, and the Marlins beat Atlanta 6-1 on Friday night.

Atlanta's loss, combined with Philadelphia's 1-0 win over Milwaukee, cut the Braves' NL East lead over the Phillies to one game.

"Not our night," Braves left fielder Matt Diaz said.

Morrison became the eighth player to hit multiple triples in a game this season, according to STATS LLC, after hitting only one in his first 126 at-bats. Both came off Atlanta starter Kenshin Kawakami (1-10), who gave up five hits - all for extra bases - five runs and four walks in three innings.

"The worst ball game I've ever seen him pitch," Braves manager Bobby Cox said.

Chad Tracy had two hits and two RBIs for Florida. Miller (1-0) allowed seven hits and one run for his first victory since July 4, 2009, and four relievers combined to finish with four no-hit innings.

Atlanta had at least one runner in scoring position every inning against Miller, but never got the big hit.

"It's been a few-and-far-between feeling for a while," Miller said. "It feels great. Just have to do it a few more times."

The Braves have been alone in first every day since beating Philadelphia on May 31, when they held a half-game lead that eventually ballooned to as much as seven games.

By Saturday night, they may have company.

Roy Halladay will try for his 17th win in Philadelphia against the Brewers - while Atlanta faces Marlins' ace Josh Johnson, who has an 0.75 ERA in two starts against the Braves this season.

The Marlins were without manager Edwin Rodriguez, who served a one-game suspension handed down earlier Friday after baseball completed its review of incidents that took place in Florida's game against Washington on Wednesday night.

Florida pitcher Chris Volstad was suspended for six games, pitcher Alex Sanabia for five, first baseman Gaby Sanchez for three. All three Marlins are appealing, and Sanchez drew loud ovations each time he appeared at the plate after clothes-lining Washington's Nyjer Morgan during the melee.

"I think it's behind us," said Marlins bench coach Brandon Hyde, who filled in for Rodriguez. "It was a wild night two nights ago, but we've talked about it. It's in the past and we're ready to move on."

The brawl may be history, but the Marlins landed plenty of hard shots against Kawakami.

Florida's first six hits all were either doubles or triples, including Morrison's long triples in the first and third innings. He has reached base in 23 straight games.

"Nothing that LoMo does surprises me anymore," Hyde said. "He just can flat-out hit."

Morrison's first-inning triple to the right field corner scored Cameron Maybin, then came home on Hanley Ramirez's double for a 2-0 lead. Kawakami got his first career RBI in the second, cutting Atlanta's deficit in half.

But Morrison struck again in the third, this time going to deep center for his triple, and Tracy followed four batters later with a two-run double that helped Florida extend its lead to 5-1.

Dan Uggla made it 6-1 in the fourth with another RBI double.

NOTES: Atlanta OF Rick Ankiel struck out four times, the third time he's done that in his career. ... Troy Glaus hit a pinch-hit single for the Braves in the fourth inning, his first at-bat since Aug. 17 after a stint on the DL with left knee inflammation. ... Ramirez stole two bases, giving him 30 for the fourth time in his five full major-league seasons. ... The Marlins recalled RHP Chris Leroux and OF Scott Cousins before the game. ... Uggla returned after missing two games with a right groin strain. He made a stellar defensive play in the second, diving to knock down Diaz's chopper, then throwing him out at first.