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Johnson, Francoeur fuel Braves in slugfest

Sep 3, 2008 - 3:43 AM By Christopher Stock PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MIAMI (Ticker) -- Kelly Johnson drove in four runs and Jeff Francoeur drove in three as the Atlanta Braves outslugged the Florida Marlins with a 16-14 triumph on Tuesday.

With the game tied at 14-14 in the top of the ninth, Ruben Gotay pinch-hit for Clint Sammons in the top of the ninth and plated Martin Prado with the go-ahead run. Johnson added an RBI single - his fourth hit of the evening - to cap the scoring.

"You sit around for a while waiting for that chance, but I came up and got the job done," Gotay said. "It's not easy (watching the game)."

Jorge Julio (1-0) picked up the win in relief and Mike Gonzalez pitched a scoreless ninth to record his eighth save. Matt Lindstrom (3-3) took the loss giving up both runs in the eighth.

Francoeur hit his 11th homer of the season - a three-run shot - and rookie Josh Anderson hit his first career home run for Atlanta.

Omar Infante, Brandon Jones and Greg Norton each drove in two runs for the Braves, who held a 10-3 lead before the Marlins responded by scoring 10 consecutive runs.

"It's just a crazy game. You'll never figure it out," Braves manager Bobby Cox said.

The 16 runs scored and 21 hits by Atlanta were both season-highs as it won for just the fifth time in 22 games. Tuesday's contest was the highest scoring game the Braves have been involved in this season, while it was the second-highest for the Marlins. Florida dropped an 18-17 decision to Colorado on July 4.

"There was a lot of great offense," Cox said. "There was some spotty good pitching on both sides. Not a lot."

Alfredo Amezaga drove in a career-high five runs with a three-run triple and a two-run single for the Marlins.

"I had more opportunities, but for some reason I couldn't do the job," Amezaga said. "It's just part of the game."

Dan Uggla belted his 29th home run and Mike Jacobs added his 28th as both players each drove in two runs.

The Braves scored four runs in the sixth inning on a two-run single by Jones, followed by a pinch-hit two-run double by Norton to take a 14-13 advantage.

Marlins rookie John Baker tied the game at 14-14 in the bottom of the eighth with a single through the right side.

"Every time you put him in the game, he's gotten better offensively. He's a big strong guy behind the plate and has been able to carry the workload that a catcher has to carry in the major leagues," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "Those are good signs to see from him."

Florida starter Anibal Sanchez had the shortest outing of his career as he allowed six runs and eight hits in three innings. He was relieved by Mark Hendrickson, who was unable to hold down the Braves who scored four runs off of the veteran lefty including a two-run double by Johnson to stretch the Braves lead to 10-3.

"You get 10 runs, that should be enough," Cox said.

The Marlins would not go away as they responded with six runs in the fourth including a three-run triple by Amezaga and a two-run homer by Uggla. The Marlins scored four more in the fifth, keyed by a two-run double by Amezaga to give the Marlins a 13-10 lead.

"At that time, I thought we had this thing, I wouldn't say wrapped up, but we felt pretty good about it," Jacobs said.