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Streaking Uggla hopes to lift Braves to sweep of Marlins

Jul 31, 2011 - 2:49 PM (Sports Network) - The Braves are hoping the streaky hitting of Dan Uggla and Freddie Freeman, combined with the success Tommy Hanson's had against the Marlins, can lead them to a sweep of the Marlins.

Uggla hit a three-run home run for the second straight night to extend his hitting streak to 21 games and help Atlanta take a 5-1 win last night.

On Friday, Uggla's three-run blast in the seventh inning kept his hitting streak alive and he kept his MLB-best run going on Saturday with his three-run shot in the third.

Freeman extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a 2-for-4 contest that saw him score once while Martin Prado went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for the Braves, who have won four of five. Eric Hinske added a leadoff home run in the eighth.

Uggla has the longest hitting streak for the Braves since Kelly Johnson's 22- game run, September 1-24, 2008.

"It's two good games for us in a row," said Hinske. "We were able to get some runs early and give the pitcher a little breathing room. Just good, clean wins in my mind."

Tim Hudson (10-7) went seven innings in the start and was tagged for just one run on six hits with no walks and five strikeouts.

Omar Infante had two hits and an RBI for the Marlins, who have dropped the first two of this three-game set after winning five straight. Anibal Sanchez (6-4) lasted just five innings as he was touched for four runs on eight hits with a walk and five strikeouts.

"Pitching and the long ball were what killed us out there tonight," said Florida center fielder Mike Cameron. "Hudson was strong out there tonight and when you run into a pitcher who is on like that, it's tough to beat them."

Hanson has won six of his last seven decisions and is 5-1 with a 2.32 ERA in eight games against the Marlins. He's held Florida scoreless in two starts, covering 13 innings this season,

Ricky Nolasco tires to win his second straight start for the Marlins. He limited the Nationals to a pair of runs over 5 2/3 innings in an 11-2 win at Washington on Tuesday. NOlasco is just 4-6 lifetime against the Braves.

Atlanta has won six of eight over Florida this year and nine of the past 11 meetings overall.

The Braves also got some needed outfield help early Sunday when they acquired the speedy Michael Bourn from Houston in exchange for outfielder Jordan Schafer, right-handed pitchers Juan Abreu and Paul Clemens and left-handed pitcher Brett Oberholtzer.

Bourn, 28, hit .303 with a homer, 32 RBI and 39 steals in 105 games for the Astros this season. A 2010 All-Star, Bourn's played his last four seasons with Houston since being acquired from Philadelphia as part of the Brad Lidge trade in 2007.

He's a career .271 major league hitter in 663 games with Philadelphia (2006-07) and Houston (2008-11).