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Johnson aims to stretch unbeaten streak versus Braves

Jun 6, 2012 - 2:50 PM (Sports Network) - Josh Johnson says he is starting to feel more comfortable on the mound. That could be bad news for the rest of the National League.

The Miami Marlins ace looks to extend a six-game unbeaten streak this evening in the second contest of a three-game series versus the Atlanta Braves.

Johnson was limited to only nine starts last year before missing most of the campaign due to right shoulder inflammation. He had notched a 1.64 earned run average prior to his season ending early, one year after posting a 2.30 ERA over 28 starts in 2010.

Johnson struggled to an 0-3 mark and 5.34 ERA over his first five starts of this season, but is 3-0 in six outings since -- all Marlins victories -- while pitching to a 3.09 ERA in his last five trips to the hill. He won for the third time in four starts last Wednesday, beating the Nationals after giving up three runs over six innings.

That gave the right-hander a 3-3 mark and 4.83 ERA overall this season.

"Physically, I feel great," Johnson told Miami's website. "I'm still having some ups and downs. But I'm a little more comfortable each time out. It seems like consistency still isn't there, but it is coming."

Johnson has been pretty consistent over his career against the Braves, going 5-3 with a 2.29 ERA in 16 games (15 starts).

The Braves would love for Randall Delgado to put together a string of victories with tonight's start after snapping a seven-start winless drought last Tuesday versus the Cardinals. He went 0-5 over that skid before holding St. Louis to three runs on six hits and three walks over 5 1/3 frames.

The right-hander got just enough support in a 5-4 decision to get his first victory since April 17, moving to 3-5 with a 4.58 ERA in 10 starts.

Delgado, 22, is just 1-3 with a 5.68 ERA in five road outings this season. He faced the Marlins twice last year, going 1-0 while giving up just one run over 10 innings.

The Braves took the opener of this series last night in blowout fashion, riding a two-homer game from Dan Uggla and Tim Hudson's 13th career shutout in an 11-0 win.

Hudson scattered five hits and struck out three while adding a pair of RBI at the plate. Uggla, meanwhile, went 4-for-5 with five RBI against his former club. His second homer of the game was the 200th of his career.

"It just so happened I caught a couple on the barrel," Uggla said after Atlanta won for the fourth time in five games since an eight-game slide.

Anibal Sanchez struggled in taking the loss for the Marlins, charged with seven runs over 6 2/3 frames.

"Our pitcher wasn't there today," Miami manager Ozzie Guillen stated. "He left a lot of pitches up."

Jose Reyes had one of five hits for the Marlins to extend his hitting streak to 15 straight games. Still, Miami lost for only the third time and 10 games and fell a game behind Washington for first place in the National League East.

Atlanta is two games out of first.

The Braves won seven of nine over the Marlins as the guest last season.