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Braves' Uggla, Gonzalez return to Florida

Jun 7, 2011 - 2:58 PM (Sports Network) - Dan Uggla is hoping a return to his old stomping grounds will ignite his flickering bat tonight, when he leads the Atlanta Braves into Sun Life Stadium for the opener of a three-game series against the Florida Marlins.

Uggla was acquired from the Marlins in the offseason and spent the first five years of his career in south Florida, hitting .263 with 465 RBI and a franchise-record 154 home runs. Uggla played at least 146 games in each of his five seasons with the Marlins, but is only hitting .172 with seven homers and 16 RBI in his first stint in Atlanta.

The two-time All-Star second baseman has five hits in his last 60 at-bats for the Braves, who lost two of three against the New York Mets over the weekend to kick off a 10-game road trip. In Sunday's 6-4 loss in the series finale at Citi Field, Braves starter Tim Hudson was roughed up for five runs and seven hits in just four innings.

"They put themselves in a position to score and I just didn't really make good pitches," said Hudson. "They got some good swings on some pitches that were mistakes and they didn't miss."

Diory Hernandez hit a three-run homer and Brian McCann added a solo shot for the Braves, who have lost five of their last nine games. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez will also make his return to Florida tonight and replaced long- time Braves manager Bobby Cox after Cox retired following a stellar managerial career. Gonzalez managed Florida from 2007 until he was fired midway through last season.

Tommy Hanson will try to make both Uggla's and Gonzalez's return to Sun Life Stadium a nice one when he toes the rubber tonight. Hanson is 6-4 with a 2.82 earned run average in 12 starts and has won five of his last six decisions, including Wednesday's 4-3 victory over San Diego. Hanson allowed two runs in six innings and rebounded from a May 27 start versus Cincinnati in which he allowed three runs -- two earned -- in six innings of a 5-1 loss.

Hanson has fared well throughout his young career against the Marlins, going 4-1 in seven starts, and beat them back on April 12 at Turner Field. In the 5-0 blanking of the Marlins, the righty tossed seven shutout innings.

Florida has dropped a season-high five straight games and lost shortstop Hanley Ramirez for some time with a strained back. Ramirez was placed on the disabled list before the Milwaukee Brewers recorded a four-game sweep of the Marlins with a 7-2 triumph on Monday.

Marlins starter Javier Vazquez was roughed up for six runs and eight hits in four innings, while Logan Morrison led the offense with three hits and two RBI. Omar Infante also had three hits for Florida, which has lost seven of eight games and is winless (0-4) on an 11-game homestand that also includes a four-game set with Arizona.

"Teams go through stretches like this and we just have to keep fighting," said Vazquez. "There's plenty of baseball left this season and we'll turn it around."

The Marlins are counting on Brad Hand to right the ship when he makes his major league debut Tuesday versus the Braves. Hand was called up when Ramirez was placed on the disabled list and went 7-1 with a 3.53 ERA in 11 starts for Double-A Jacksonville. The left-hander is taking the place of injured starter Josh Johnson (shoulder).

"I'm just trying to go out there and pitch my game and help my team win," Hand said on the club's website.

Florida took two of three meetings with Atlanta from April 12-14 this season, but the Braves have won seven of the previous 11 encounters between the NL East foes. Both clubs sit four games behind Philadelphia for division bragging rights.