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Lowe aims to put struggles behind him in Miami

Aug 8, 2011 - 2:54 PM (Sports Network) - Veteran right-hander Derek Lowe can end a personal skid and keep the Atlanta Braves in the driver's seat for the National League wild card tonight when they visit Sun Life Stadium for the first of three games with the host Florida Marlins.

Lowe, a 38-year-old from Michigan, hasn't won in three starts since beating Colorado, 7-4, on July 18 in Denver. He's lost all three subsequent outings - giving up a combined 24 hits and 15 runs in 14 innings against Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Washington.

He's 7-4 with three saves in 21 career meetings with the Marlins - including 16 starts. In those games, the former World Series champion with the Boston Red Sox has allowed 99 hits and 52 earned runs in 97 2/3 innings while walking 39 batters and striking out 81.

Lowe last faced the Marlins on June 8 in Miami and got a no-decision in Atlanta's 3-2 victory after giving up two hits in 6 2/3 scoreless innings.

The Braves maintained a 3 1/2-game lead over Arizona in the wild card race on Sunday when Chipper Jones singled home the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning in a 6-5 victory over the New York Mets in the rubber match of a three-game series at Citi Field.

Alex Gonzalez, Jose Constanza and Jason Heyward each homered for Atlanta, which has won three of its last four.

Braves second baseman Dan Uggla extended his career-high hitting streak to 28 games with a two-out single in the eighth, while rookie first baseman Freddie Freeman went 0-for-4 to halt his personal-best hitting streak at 20 games.

Recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday after Jair Jurrjens landed on the 15-day disabled list, Mike Minor was charged with four runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. Minor hadn't pitched for the Braves since a 5-1 win against Toronto on June 21.

On Sunday in Miami, Albert Pujols homered and scored three runs, Matt Holliday drove in three and the St. Louis Cardinals swept the Marlins with an 8-4 win.

Bryan Petersen hit a pinch-hit two-run homer for the blunder-prone Marlins, who began their 10-game homestand 0-4.

Michael Dunn (5-6) took the loss after relieving starter Javier Vazquez in the seventh and getting only one out. He was charged with two unearned runs.

Tonight, the Marlins send 21-year-old rookie southpaw Brad Hand to the mound in search of a second straight win after beginning his debut season with three consecutive losses.

The Minneapolis native was 0-3 after losing to Atlanta, Arizona and Tampa Bay in his initial three starts while allowing nine hits and eight runs on 15 2/3 innings.

The loss to the Braves came in his big-league debut on June 7, when he gave up a solo home run in six innings of a 1-0 defeat.

He broke through for his first victory on July 7 against Houston after allowing just two hits in seven scoreless innings if a 5-0 defeat of the Astros in Miami.

In 34 2/3 overall innings, he's given up 25 hits and 11 earned runs.

Atlanta has won six of its nine meetings with the Marlins this season.