Atlanta Braves (43-38) at Florida Marlins (37-44), 1:05 p.m.
(Sports Network) - Enthusiastic left-hander Dontrelle Willis tries to snap a
five-start winless skid today, when the Florida Marlins host the Atlanta
Braves in the finale of a three-game series at Dolphin Stadium.
Willis, who won 22 games in 2005 before slumping to just 12 last season, has
not won since a 9-4 defeat of the Chicago Cubs on May 29 at Wrigley Field.
He's 0-4 with a no-decision since, though he pitched well in a 3-2 loss to
Pittsburgh in his last outing on June 26.
In that game, the 25-year-old Californian allowed seven hits and three runs in
seven innings.
He's 6-4 in 16 career starts against the Braves, posting a 4.85 earned run
average in 104 innings.
Journeyman right-hander Buddy Carlyle starts against the Marlins for the
second time this season.
In his first try on June 5 in Atlanta, the 29-year-old allowed just one hit
and one run over seven innings in the Braves' 3-1 victory. The win was the
first of his career in an Atlanta uniform after he entered the season 1-3
lifetime after previous stints with San Diego and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Most recently, the native of Omaha, Nebraska allowed five hits and a run
over seven innings in downing Washington, 6-2, on June 26.
Carlyle has made two road appearances this season and has posted a 2.57 ERA in
seven innings.
On Saturday, Edgar Renteria doubled home the go-ahead run during a five-run
eighth inning as the Braves held on to defeat the Marlins, 6-5.
Jeff Francoeur went 2-for-5 and drove in two runs during the decisive eighth
inning for the Braves, who have won five straight, including the first two
games of this three-game set. Chipper Jones and Kelly Johnson also drove in a
run each for Atlanta, which has scored 41 runs during its current winning
streak -- 31 in the last three games.
Tim Hudson (8-5) started on the mound for the Braves and got the win. The
right-hander allowed one run on seven hits, striking out six and walking one,
over seven innings. Hudson has now won two straight starts after going 0-2
over his previous four starts.
Dan Uggla and Miguel Olivo homered and Miguel Cabrera went 3-for-4 with an RBI
for the Marlins, who have lost six of seven.
Armando Benitez (2-4) got the loss, allowing five runs -- four earned -- on
two hits with two walks in just one-third of an inning.