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Marlins send Johnson to the mound in opener against Braves

Sep 1, 2008 - 2:28 PM Atlanta (59-78) at Florida (69-68), 1:10 pm EDT

MIAMI (Ticker) -- Josh Johnson's emergence in the Florida Marlins' starting rotation may have come a bit too late.

The Marlins, who have lost seven of their last 11, have fallen out of the playoff race in the National League, but begin a three-game set against the lowly Atlanta Braves as one of their young and promising hurlers takes the mound.

Florida is now seven games behind the first-place New York Mets (76-61) and six back of the Philadelphia Phillies (75-62) in the East.

Johnson (4-0, 3.12 ERA) has made nine starts this season since coming back from right elbow surgery, which kept him out of action for all but four ineffective outings in 2007.

Prior to that, the 24-year-old went 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 31 games - 24 starts - in 2006, beginning talks of the righthander transforming into yet another decorated weapon for the Marlins' staff.

Coming off his first complete game of his career, Johnson held the Braves to one run and four hits on Wednesday. He has surrendered three runs or less in eight of his nine starts and has lasted at least six innings in seven of those.

The Braves counter with Mike Hampton (2-2, 5.85), who was on the losing end against Johnson despite tossing eight strong innings, allowing three runs and eight hits.

Hampton has been solid in his past three starts, going 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA. Prior to that stretch, he was 1-1 with an 8.10 ERA in four shoddy outings.