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Braves-Marlins Preview

May 6, 2009 - 4:36 AM By DAN PIERINGER STATS Writer

Atlanta (11-14) at Florida (15-11), 7:10 p.m. EDT

The Atlanta Braves have had a hard time scoring runs over the last 10 days. That's a familiar sight for the Florida Marlins, who had no problems containing the Braves' offense in the clubs' first series this season.

The Marlins look to improve to 4-0 against the Braves in 2009 when the struggling NL East rivals open a two-game series Wednesday night in Miami.

Atlanta (11-15) has scored more than three runs just three times over its last nine games, totaling 29 while going 2-7. The Braves have been outscored 22-13 during a four-game losing streak that continued with a 4-3 home defeat against the New York Mets on Tuesday.

"It's frustrating beyond belief," said third baseman Chipper Jones, who capped an 0-for-4 night by flying out to end the game. "It's something we've got to try and fight through and keep playing. We're not quitting. We're playing hard.

"Eventually some good things have got to start happening. We can't be this unlucky this long."

Atlanta didn't get many breaks in its first meetings with Florida (15-12) this season either. The Marlins outscored the Braves 21-7 from April 14-16 to sweep a three-game series at Turner Field for the first time in franchise history.

The Marlins, however, have had their own problems at the plate lately. They've totaled 14 runs in dropping four of their last five, including a 7-0 home loss to Cincinnati on Tuesday - the second time they've been shut out in 2009.

The Marlins hope to bounce back against Braves ace Derek Lowe (3-1, 3.03 ERA), who hopes to have better luck in his second start against Florida. The right-handed sinkerballer was reached for a season-high four runs in five innings of a 10-4 loss on April 15.

Lowe is 5-4 with a 4.46 ERA in 15 games - 10 starts - against the Marlins, including 1-3 with a 4.40 ERA in seven games with five starts coming at Dolphin Stadium. Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez is 9-for-17 (.529) with five doubles and three walks in his career against Lowe, and second baseman Dan Uggla is 6-for-18 with a homer and a double off him.

In his last outing, Lowe held Houston to two runs in 6 2-3 innings of a 7-2 victory on Friday. It was the fourth time in six starts since signing a four-year, $60 million contract with Atlanta in the offseason that he's given up two runs or fewer.

The Marlins will counter with Graham Taylor (0-1, 6.23), who rebounded from a rough major league debut by holding the Chicago Cubs to two runs over five innings in an 8-6 loss Friday.

"I was definitely a little more relaxed going into today's start," the left-hander told the Marlins' official Web site. "I was able to throw more strikes. I still felt I was nibbling a little there in the middle innings. I had a few walks. For the most part, I was pretty satisfied."