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Uggla tries to get into record books, Braves seek sweep of Marlins

Aug 10, 2011 - 2:59 PM (Sports Network) - Dan Uggla hopes to put his name into the Atlanta Braves record books this evening when he tries to stretch his hitting streak to 31 games in the finale of a three-game set against the Florida Marlins at Sun Life Stadium.

Uggla extended his streak on Tuesday, moving him within one of Rico Carty's Atlanta record set in 1970. He did so with an infield single in the fifth inning.

"I think the loudest cheer of the night was when [Uggla] beat out that ball," Braves third baseman Chipper Jones said.

Uggla, who played the first five years of his career with the Marlins, is just 2-for-9 in the first two games of this series, with both of his hits being infield singles. According to Elias, he has notched nine infield singles during the streak and had a total of six in the previous 86 games he had played.

"There are going to be times when you don't feel as good, and you have to battle and take what you can get," said Uggla, who has improved his batting average from .173 to .220 during the streak.

Uggla, who has matched Los Angeles' Andre Ethier for the longest streak in the league this season, has hit .345 (41-for-119) with 12 homers during the run that dates back to July 5.

Atlanta, which leads the National League's wild card race, made it two straight in Miami on Tuesday when Martin Prado went 4-for-6 with three RBI, including the game-winning single in the 11th inning of a 4-3 victory.

Edward Mujica (8-4) walked pinch-hitter Eric Hinske leading off the 11th inning. Jason Heyward, celebrating his 22nd birthday Tuesday, came in as a pinch-runner, but was picked off. Michael Bourn made it to second on a double to right despite falling down after rounding first base.

Prado then grounded a hit into right field. Mike Stanton's throw home was air- mailed and hit the backstop.

George Sherrill (3-1) pitched the 10th to earn the win. Craig Kimbrel recorded his 36th save by getting Mike Cameron to hit into a double play to end the game.

Heading to the hill for Atlanta tonight will be Tim Hudson, who improved to 10-4 in his career against the Marlins when he tossed seven innings of one-run ball for a 5-1 triumph in Atlanta on July 30.

In 21 starts against Florida, he's allowed 125 hits and struck out 109 batters in 130 1/3 innings.

In one start since the late-July victory, Hudson picked up his 11th win of the season after again allowing a run in seven innings, this time in a 4-1 defeat of the New York Mets at Citi Field.

He's 6-2 in his last 10 starts overall and 4-3 in nine road outings in 2011.

For Florida, Venezuelan righty Anibal Sanchez gets another chance at the Braves after losing the aforementioned July 30 encounter.

Sanchez allowed four runs on eight hits in five innings of the loss and dropped to 4-8 in 14 career starts against the Braves.

He's pitched once since and lost a 3-2 decision to St. Louis.

The 27-year-old hasn't won since a June 10 defeat of Arizona, going 0-3 in 10 subsequent starts. The Marlins are 3-7 in those games.

Atlanta has won eight of its 11 meetings with the Marlins this season.