(Sports Network) - The Atlanta Braves aim for another win over the National League East-rival Florida Marlins in this afternoon's third installment of a four-game series at Turner Field.
Atlanta entered this series on a three-game losing streak before recording a 7-5, 10-inning victory over the Marlins on Monday. The Braves then made it two straight over Florida with a 5-4 triumph on Tuesday, as Chipper Jones belted a three-run homer, scored twice and collected two hits to lead the way. He now has 399 career home runs.
Greg Norton put the Braves ahead for good with a two-run double in the eighth inning.
Relief pitcher Will Ohman worked a scoreless top of the eighth for his second win in as many nights. Rafael Soriano then retired the Marlins in order in the ninth for his second save of the season. Starter Jorge Campillo lasted just four innings and surrendered four runs on six hits in the no-decision.
The Braves are 2-0 on a seven-game homestand and own a strong 24-7 mark at Turner Field this season.
Tom Glavine will try to pitch himself back into the win column when he toes the rubber this afternoon for the Braves. Glavine is 0-1 in two starts since a personal two-game winning streak, having posted a no-decision the last time out Friday at Cincinnati.
Glavine allowed a pair of runs on five hits in six innings of Atlanta's 3-2 setback to the Reds. He is 2-2 with a 4.56 earned run average in 10 starts this season.
The veteran lefty is 17-19 with a 4.03 ERA in 48 career starts against the Marlins.
In team news for the Braves, it was announced Wednesday morning that veteran pitcher John Smoltz will undergo surgery on his right shoulder and will miss the remainder of the season. He was sidelined with an inflamed biceps tendon and inflamed rotator cuff from late April until Monday. Smoltz came off the disabled list Monday and threw an inning of relief against Florida, blowing a save by allowing two runs and three hits in a game the Braves eventually won in 10 innings.
The 41-year-old right-hander was expected to take over the closer's role to help alleviate pain in the shoulder, but he apparently awoke on Tuesday morning with pain. Smoltz began this season in the rotation and has a record of 3-2 with a 2.57 earned run average in six games, five of which were starts.
Florida, meanwhile, has lost three straight and six of seven games to fall 2 1/2 games off Philadelphia's lead in the NL East. Atlanta is right behind at 3 1/2 games in back of the Phillies.
Dan Uggla homered twice and knocked in three runs on Tuesday, while Jorge Cantu had the other RBI for the Marlins. Starter Burke Badenhop worked five innings, allowing three runs on three hits and five walks in a no-decision. Matt Lindstrom was saddled with the loss in relief.
The Marlins are 2-6 on a 10-game road trip and 13-14 away from Dolphin Stadium this season. They will hand the pitching duties to Mark Hendrickson today, and he is 7-3 with a 5.26 ERA in 12 starts this season.
Hendrickson had a two-start losing streak come to an end his last time out on Friday at Philadelphia. He allowed a season-high 10 runs and seven hits in just 3 2/3 frames of work and the Phillies won the game, 12-3.
The former NBA player will face Atlanta for the second time this season after beating the Braves on April 16. In a 6-5 win at Dolphin Stadium, Hendrickson yielded three runs -- two earned -- on six hits over 5 1/3 innings. He is 1-2 with a 3.93 ERA in three career starts against Florida.
Atlanta is 4-3 against Florida this season and 35-27 in the series since the start of the 2005 campaign. Atlanta is 21-10 versus the Marlins at Turner Field over that stretch.
(Sports Network) - Mike Mussina takes aim at win No. 18 this afternoon when the New York Yankees play the rubber match of their three-game series ... Full Story...
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