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Willis wins third as Marlins throttle Braves

Apr 14, 2007 - 7:14 AM ATLANTA (Ticker) -- The Florida Marlins wish more visits to Atlanta were like this.

Dontrelle Willis received early run support and pitched seven strong innings as the Marlins rolled to an 11-4 victory over the Braves.

Dan Uggla, Cody Ross, Miguel Olivo and Joe Borchard all drove in two runs apiece for the Marlins, who are just 7-22 here since 2004. Miguel Cabrera had two hits and an RBI, tying Derrek Lee for third on the Marlins all-time RBI list with 417.

Florida gave Willis (3-0) plenty of support, posting five runs in the first inning off Braves starter Mark Redman (0-2).

Hanley Ramirez began the frame with a bloop single to right and Redman followed by hitting Uggla with a pitch and walking Cabrera to load the bases.

After Josh Willingham struck out, Olivo followed with a bloop single to right, plating Ramirez and Uggla. Ross drove in Cabrera and Olivo with a double and advanced to third on the throw. Ross scored on a sacrifice fly by Aaron Boone.

"I had a bloop hit to start the game and a hit batter and a base on balls and a bloop hit," Redman said. "It kind of happened really quick."

Willis said he was not necessarily comfortable pitching with the 5-0 cushion.

"I'm good at blowing big leads," he said. "My mindset was just to get us in the dugout. I've seen (the Braves) do some amazing things."

Willis held this lead however, yielding three runs, eight hits and a walk while striking out five to improve to 12-1 with a 2.49 ERA all-time in April.

"It's one of those weird things in baseball," Willis said. "I wish I could pitch (like I do) in April for six months."

Redman lasted just 2 2/3 innings, allowing seven runs, six hits and two walks. His ERA is 12.96.

"I can't really panic about it," Redman said. "I have to look back. For me, I have slower starts to begin the season."

Chipper Jones had a two-run home run and Brayan Pena added a solo blast for Atlanta, which dropped its second consecutive game and has been outscored 22-4 in Friday games this season.

"It reminded me of Opening Day (last Friday) against the Mets," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "(Redman) just couldn't get it done again tonight and we just couldn't hold them."

Braves reliever Chad Paronto left the game in the seventh inning with an adductor strain and will be evaluated Saturday.

Marlins manager Freddi Gonzalez won in his first trip to Atlanta as a manager. He was the third base coach of the Braves during the past three seasons.

"Just ask those guys (in the locker room)," Gonzalez said. "I didn't do anything. I didn't relax one bit until it was over. People score seven, eight runs like that."