GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: ATLANTA (68-64) at FLORIDA (57-75)

NL: ATLANTA at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">NL AT FLORIDA - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: M Diaz in right field.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 3
FLORIDA 3 BOTTOM, 11TH

DUE UP FOR FLORIDA: M Jacobs (.265, 1-FOR-4, RBI)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">NL AT FLORIDA - PITCHING CHANGE
ATL: OSCAR VILLARREAL (2-1, 4.02) STARTING THE 11TH
CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 3, FLORIDA 3

DUE UP FOR FLORIDA: M JACOBS (.265, 1-FOR-4, RBI)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">NL AT FLORIDA - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: O Villarreal relieved T Yates.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 3
FLORIDA 3 BOTTOM, 11TH

DUE UP FOR FLORIDA: M Jacobs (.265, 1-FOR-4, RBI)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">NL AT FLORIDA - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: P Orr in left field.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 3
FLORIDA 3 BOTTOM, 11TH

DUE UP FOR FLORIDA: M Jacobs (.265, 1-FOR-4, RBI)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">NL AT FLORIDA - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY ALEJANDRO DE AZA SCORED ALFREDO AMEZAGA.


FINAL SCORE: FLORIDA 4, ATLANTA 3</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">NL FINAL 11
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
- - - - - - - - -
ATLANTA 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
FLORIDA 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

10 11 R H E
-- -- - - -
ATLANTA 0 0 3 9 1
FLORIDA 0 1 4 9 0 (FINAL 11)

BATTERIES: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ, PETER MOYLAN (7TH), RON MAHAY (9TH), TYLER YATES
(10TH), OSCAR VILLARREAL (11TH) AND BRIAN MCCANN

FLA - RICK VANDENHURK, MATT LINDSTROM (6TH), TAYLOR
TANKERSLEY (7TH), ARMANDO BENITEZ (8TH), KEVIN GREGG (9TH),
BYUNG-HYUN KIM (11TH) AND MATT TREANOR

HOME RUNS: ATL - BRIAN MCCANN (17) OFF RICK VANDENHURK IN THE 2ND, 0 ON
CHIPPER JONES (22) OFF ARMANDO BENITEZ IN THE 8TH, 1 ON

FLA - JEREMY HERMIDA (14) OFF JOHN SMOLTZ IN THE 2ND, 1 ON</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">NL FINAL 11
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
- - - - - - - - -
ATLANTA 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
FLORIDA 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

10 11 R H E
-- -- - - -
ATLANTA 0 0 3 9 1
FLORIDA 0 1 4 9 0 (FINAL 11)

BATTERIES: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ, PETER MOYLAN (7TH), RON MAHAY (9TH), TYLER YATES
(10TH), OSCAR VILLARREAL (11TH) AND BRIAN MCCANN

FLA - RICK VANDENHURK, MATT LINDSTROM (6TH), TAYLOR
TANKERSLEY (7TH), ARMANDO BENITEZ (8TH), KEVIN GREGG (9TH),
BYUNG-HYUN KIM (11TH) AND MATT TREANOR


WP - BYUNG-HYUN KIM (7-6)
LP - OSCAR VILLARREAL (2-2)
SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS: ATL - BRIAN MCCANN (17) OFF RICK VANDENHURK IN THE 2ND, 0 ON
CHIPPER JONES (22) OFF ARMANDO BENITEZ IN THE 8TH, 1 ON

FLA - JEREMY HERMIDA (14) OFF JOHN SMOLTZ IN THE 2ND, 1 ON


TIME: 3:12 ATT: 11,539

PROBABLES: ATL - BUDDY CARLYLE (7-5, 5.00)
FLA - DONTRELLE WILLIS (8-13, 4.96)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">ATLANTA (3) VS FLORIDA (4) - FINAL IN 11 INNINGS

ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
W Harris lf 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 .295
a-M Diaz ph-lf-rf 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .350
K Johnson 2b 4 1 0 0 1 3 3 .289
C Jones 3b 4 1 1 2 1 3 0 .335
M Teixeira 1b 5 0 2 0 0 1 0 .320
B McCann c 5 1 2 1 0 2 3 .273
J Francoeur rf 5 0 0 0 0 5 3 .294
O Villarreal p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
A Jones cf 5 0 2 0 0 3 2 .224
Y Escobar ss 4 0 2 0 1 0 1 .329
J Smoltz p 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .093
b-C Woodward ph 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .200
P Moylan p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
c-S Thorman ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .212
R Mahay p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
T Yates p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
P Orr lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .179

Totals 39 3 9 3 4 19 20

a-grounded to second for W Harris in the 7th; b-walked for J Smoltz in the
7th; c-flied out to left for P Moylan in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - Y Escobar (17, R VandenHurk). HR - B Mccann (17, 2nd inning off R
VandenHurk 0 on, 1 Out), C Jones (22, 8th inning off A Benitez 1 on, 0 Out). S
- J Smoltz. RBI - B McCann (82), C Jones 2 (79). Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - K Johnson 3, A Jones 1. GIDP - M Diaz, Y Escobar. Team LOB -
8.

FIELDING: E - B McCann (12, throw).


FLORIDA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Ramirez ss 5 0 2 0 0 0 0 .332
D Uggla 2b 5 1 1 0 0 2 3 .250
B Kim p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .050
M Cabrera 3b 5 0 1 0 0 1 3 .317
M Jacobs 1b 5 0 1 1 0 1 0 .264
J Willingham lf 3 1 1 0 1 1 2 .272
A Amezaga pr-lf-2b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .262
J Hermida rf 5 1 2 2 0 0 1 .282
M Treanor c 4 0 0 0 1 1 1 .292
A De Aza cf 4 0 0 1 0 3 2 .243
R VandenHurk p 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 .050
M Lindstrom p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
T Tankersley p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-T Linden ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .227
A Benitez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
K Gregg p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-J Wood ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .273
C Ross pr-lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308

Totals 40 4 9 4 3 12 12

a-struck out looking for T Tankersley in the 7th; b-singled to left for K
Gregg in the 10th.

BATTING: 2B - J Hermida (22, O Villarreal). HR - J Hermida (14, 2nd inning off
J Smoltz 1 on, 1 Out). SF - A De Aza. RBI - J Hermida 2 (46), M Jacobs (36), A
De Aza (5). 2-out RBI - M Jacobs. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M
Cabrera 2, J Willingham 1. Team LOB - 8.

BASERUNNING: SB - H Ramirez (42, 2nd base off J Smoltz/B McCann).

FIELDING: DP: 2 (H Ramirez-D Uggla-M Jacobs, H Ramirez-A Amezaga-M Jacobs).



----------------------------------------------------
ATLANTA - 010 000 020 00 -- 3
FLORIDA - 021 000 000 01 -- 4

Two outs when winning run scored.
----------------------------------------------------

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Smoltz 6 6 3 3 0 7 1 3.06
P Moylan 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 1.95
R Mahay 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1.80
T Yates 1 2 0 0 0 2 0 4.89
O Villarreal (L, 2-2) 2/3 1 1 1 2 0 0 4.11

FLORIDA ip h r er bb so hr era
R VandenHurk 5 5 1 1 2 8 1 6.59
M Lindstrom (H, 16) 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.25
T Tankersley (H, 14) 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 4.76
A Benitez (B, 7) 1 1 2 2 1 3 1 5.01
K Gregg 2 2 0 0 0 5 0 3.04
B Kim (W, 7-6) 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 5.44

R VandenHurk pitched to 2 batters in the 6th.

IBB - M Treanor (by O Villarreal). Pitches-strikes: J Smoltz 79-57; P Moylan
20-14; R Mahay 14-8; T Yates 22-16; O Villarreal 15-6; R VandenHurk 86-56; M
Lindstrom 8-8; T Tankersley 21-13; A Benitez 27-16; K Gregg 31-20; B Kim 14-8.
Ground balls-fly balls: J Smoltz 4-7; P Moylan 3-1; R Mahay 0-2; T Yates 1-0; O
Villarreal 0-2; R VandenHurk 2-5; M Lindstrom 0-1; T Tankersley 3-0; A Benitez
0-0; K Gregg 0-1; B Kim 2-0. Batters faced: J Smoltz 24; P Moylan 6; R Mahay 4;
T Yates 5; O Villarreal 5; R VandenHurk 22; M Lindstrom 3; T Tankersley 3; A
Benitez 5; K Gregg 8; B Kim 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Doug Eddings. 1B--Mike Everitt. 2B--Dana Demuth. 3B--Kerwin
Danley.
EJECTIONS: ATLANTA's Francoeur by Eddings (11th).
T--3:12. Att--11,539.
Weather: 86 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 13 mph, in
from center.</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
ATLANTA 3
FLORIDA 4 FINAL</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ATLANTA (3) AT FLORIDA (4) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ATLANTA 2ND: M Teixeira grounded out to second. B McCann homered to left
center. J Francoeur struck out swinging. A Jones struck out swinging.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 1, FLORIDA 0.

FLORIDA 2ND: M Jacobs fouled out to catcher. J Willingham singled to
center. J Hermida homered to right, J Willingham scored. M Treanor struck out
swinging. A De Aza struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 1,
FLORIDA 2.

FLORIDA 3RD: R VandenHurk struck out swinging. H Ramirez fouled out to
right. D Uggla reached on infield single to shortstop. M Cabrera singled to
right, D Uggla to third. M Jacobs singled to center, D Uggla scored, M Cabrera
to second. J Willingham grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, M Jacobs
out at second. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 1, FLORIDA 3.

ATLANTA 8TH: A Benitez relieved T Tankersley. K Johnson walked. C Jones
homered to left center, K Johnson scored. M Teixeira struck out looking.
B McCann struck out swinging. J Francoeur struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) ATLANTA 3, FLORIDA 3.

FLORIDA 11TH: M Diaz in right field. O Villarreal relieved T Yates. P Orr
in left field. M Jacobs flied out to center. A Amezaga walked. J Hermida
doubled to deep left center, A Amezaga to third. M Treanor intentionally
walked. A De Aza hit sacrifice fly to right, A Amezaga scored. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) ATLANTA 3, FLORIDA 4.</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ATLANTA (3) AT FLORIDA (4) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Atlanta Starting Lineups -- W Harris LF, K Johnson 2B, C Jones 3B, M Teixeira 1B,
B McCann C, J Francoeur RF, A Jones CF, Y Escobar SS, J Smoltz RHP.

Florida Starting Lineups -- H Ramirez SS, D Uggla 2B, M Cabrera 3B, M Jacobs 1B,
J Willingham LF, J Hermida RF, M Treanor C, A De Aza CF, R VandenHurk RHP.

Umpires -- Doug Eddings (HP), Mike Everitt (1B), Dana Demuth (2B), Kerwin Danley (3B).

Gametime Weather: 86 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind in from center at 13 mph.


ATLANTA 1ST: W Harris struck out swinging. K Johnson struck out looking.
C Jones struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 0, FLORIDA 0.

FLORIDA 1ST: H Ramirez popped out to second. D Uggla flied out to center.
M Cabrera struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 0, FLORIDA 0.

ATLANTA 2ND: M Teixeira grounded out to second. B McCann homered to left
center. J Francoeur struck out swinging. A Jones struck out swinging. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 1, FLORIDA 0.

FLORIDA 2ND: M Jacobs fouled out to catcher. J Willingham singled to
center. J Hermida homered to right, J Willingham scored. M Treanor struck out
swinging. A De Aza struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 1,
FLORIDA 2.

ATLANTA 3RD: Y Escobar walked. J Smoltz sacrificed to first, Y Escobar to
second. W Harris flied out to right. K Johnson flied out to left. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 1, FLORIDA 2.

FLORIDA 3RD: R VandenHurk struck out swinging. H Ramirez fouled out to
right. D Uggla reached on infield single to shortstop. M Cabrera singled to
right, D Uggla to third. M Jacobs singled to center, D Uggla scored, M Cabrera
to second. J Willingham grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, M Jacobs
out at second. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 1, FLORIDA 3.

ATLANTA 4TH: C Jones struck out swinging. M Teixeira flied out to right.
B McCann singled to right. J Francoeur struck out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) ATLANTA 1, FLORIDA 3.

FLORIDA 4TH: J Hermida grounded out to third. M Treanor grounded out to
pitcher. A De Aza flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 1,
FLORIDA 3.

ATLANTA 5TH: A Jones singled to left. Y Escobar hit a ground rule double
to deep right center, A Jones to third. J Smoltz lined out to right. W Harris
flied out to right. K Johnson struck out looking. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
ATLANTA 1, FLORIDA 3.

FLORIDA 5TH: R VandenHurk struck out swinging. H Ramirez singled to left.
H Ramirez stole second, H Ramirez safe at third on throwing error by catcher
B McCann. D Uggla struck out swinging. M Cabrera grounded out to first. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 1 Error) ATLANTA 1, FLORIDA 3.

ATLANTA 6TH: C Jones walked. M Teixeira singled to left, C Jones to
second. M Lindstrom relieved R VandenHurk. B McCann flied out to left.
J Francoeur struck out swinging. A Jones struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) ATLANTA 1, FLORIDA 3.

FLORIDA 6TH: M Jacobs flied out to center. J Willingham struck out
swinging. J Hermida flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 1,
FLORIDA 3.

ATLANTA 7TH: T Tankersley relieved M Lindstrom. Y Escobar grounded out to
third. C Woodward hit for J Smoltz. C Woodward walked. M Diaz hit for
W Harris. M Diaz grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first,
C Woodward out at second.(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 1, FLORIDA 3.

FLORIDA 7TH: M Diaz in left field. P Moylan relieved J Smoltz. M Treanor
grounded out to pitcher. A De Aza struck out swinging. T Linden hit for
T Tankersley. T Linden struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 1,
FLORIDA 3.

ATLANTA 8TH: A Benitez relieved T Tankersley. K Johnson walked. C Jones
homered to left center, K Johnson scored. M Teixeira struck out looking.
B McCann struck out swinging. J Francoeur struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) ATLANTA 3, FLORIDA 3.

FLORIDA 8TH: H Ramirez flied out to center. D Uggla grounded out to
shortstop. M Cabrera grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
ATLANTA 3, FLORIDA 3.

ATLANTA 9TH: K Gregg relieved A Benitez. A Jones struck out swinging.
Y Escobar singled to right. S Thorman hit for P Moylan. S Thorman flied out to
left. M Diaz struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 3,
FLORIDA 3.

FLORIDA 9TH: R Mahay relieved P Moylan. M Jacobs struck out looking.
J Willingham walked. A Amezaga ran for J Willingham. J Hermida lined out to
shortstop. M Treanor lined out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 3,
FLORIDA 3.

ATLANTA 10TH: A Amezaga in left field. K Johnson struck out swinging.
C Jones struck out swinging. M Teixeira singled to center. B McCann struck out
swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 3, FLORIDA 3.

FLORIDA 10TH: T Yates relieved R Mahay. A De Aza struck out swinging.
J Wood hit for K Gregg. J Wood singled to left. H Ramirez singled to center,
J Wood to second. C Ross ran for J Wood. D Uggla struck out swinging. M Cabrera
grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, H Ramirez out at second. (0 Runs,
2 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 3, FLORIDA 3.

ATLANTA 11TH: B Kim relieved K Gregg. A Amezaga at second base. C Ross in
left field. J Francoeur struck out swinging. Atlanta's J Francoeur ejected by
D Eddings. A Jones singled to center. Y Escobar grounded into double play,
shortstop to second to first, A Jones out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
ATLANTA 3, FLORIDA 3.

FLORIDA 11TH: M Diaz in right field. O Villarreal relieved T Yates. P Orr
in left field. M Jacobs flied out to center. A Amezaga walked. J Hermida
doubled to deep left center, A Amezaga to third. M Treanor intentionally
walked. A De Aza hit sacrifice fly to right, A Amezaga scored. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) ATLANTA 3, FLORIDA 4.</div>

 

De Aza's walk-off sacrifice fly lifts Marlins over Braves

<h3>FLORIDA 4, ATLANTA 3 (11 INNINGS)</h3>By Paul Gereffi
PA Sportsticker Contributing Writer


MIAMI (Ticker) -- Rookie Alejandro De Aza hit a walk-off sacrificefly to lift the Florida Marlins to a 4-3 victory over the AtlantaBraves in 11 innings on Tuesday.


With the loss, the Braves (68-65) playoff hopes are fading.They remain six games behind the New York Mets (73-58) in theNational League East and are 4 1/2 games back in the wild card,behind the San Diego Padres (71-59), who play later Tuesday.

De Aza smacked a first-pitch offering from Oscar Villarreal(2-2) to deep right field, which was deep enough to bringAlfredo Amezaga home.


After Mike Jacobs flied out to start the frame, Amezega drew awalk before Jeremy Hermida crushed a high fly ball toleft-center field for a double. Matt Treanor was issued anintentional pass to load the bases and set the stage for DeAza's heroics.


Byung-Hyung Kim (7-6) picked up the win after pitching ascoreless 11th inning.


Florida reliever Armando Benitez gave up a two-run home run toChipper Jones in the eighth that tied the score at 3-3. Benitezwalked the leadoff hitter, then Jones hit a 3-2 pitch over theleft field scoreboard.


Marlins rookie starter Rick VandenHurk pitched five-plusinnings, allowing one run and five hits with a career-high eightstrikeouts. Florida's pitching combined for 19 strikeouts.

Braves starter John Smoltz pitched six innings, giving up threeruns and five hits with seven strikeouts. Smoltz pitched onjust three days rest for the first time this season aftergetting the win in a 7-2 victory Friday against the St. LouisCardinals.


The Braves put runners on second and third with no outs in thefifth, but VandenHurk pitched out of the jam with some defensivehelp from the arm of right fielder Jeremy Hermida.

Both Smoltz and Willie Harris flied out to right but strongthrows to home plate from Hermida kept Andruw Jones at third.VandenHurk then struck out Kelly Johnson to get out of theinning.


VandenHurk got in another jam in the sixth after letting thefirst two batters reach base. He was relieved by Matt Lindstromand again got help. After Brian McCann flied to left,Lindstrom fanned Jeff Francoeur and Andruw Jones to end thethreat.


Hermida gave the Marlins a 2-1 advantage in the second byblasting his 14th home run of the season to right.

Florida stretched its lead to 3-1 in the third when Jacobs'single plated Dan Uggla, who reached first base when shortstopYunel Escobar's throw to first pulled Mark Teixeira off the bag.

The Braves scored first on McCann's solo homer in the secondinning - his 17th home run of the season.

 

De Aza's walk-off sacrifice fly lifts Marlins over Braves

<h3>FLORIDA 4, ATLANTA 3 (11 INNINGS)</h3>By Paul Gereffi
PA Sportsticker Contributing Writer


MIAMI (Ticker) -- It took 11 innings, but the Florida Marlinsfinally got a win.


Rookie Alejandro De Aza hit a walk-off sacrifice fly to lift theMarlins to a 4-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves in 11 inningson Tuesday.


It was just the second win for the Marlins in their last 14games.


De Aza smacked a first-pitch offering from Oscar Villarreal(2-2) to deep right field, which was far enough to plate AlfredoAmezaga.


After Mike Jacobs flied out to start the frame, Amezega drew awalk before Jeremy Hermida crushed a high fly ball toleft-center field for a double. Matt Treanor was issued anintentional walk to load the bases and set the stage for DeAza's heroics.


"It was a good win. We haven't had one of those in a longtime," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "You'd like to justplay nine, but right now, I'll take it any way."


Byung-Hyun Kim (7-6) picked up the win after pitching ascoreless 11th inning.


With the loss, the Braves (68-65) failed to gain ground in theplayoff race. They remained six games behind the first-placeNew York Mets (73-58) in the National League East Division andare 4 1/2 games back of the wild card-leading San Diego Padres(71-59), who are hosting the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Florida reliever Armando Benitez gave up a two-run home run toChipper Jones in the eighth that tied the game at 3-3. Benitezwalked leadoff hitter Kelly Johnson before Jones hit a 3-2 pitchover the left field scoreboard.


Marlins rookie starter Rick VandenHurk pitched five-plusinnings, allowing one run and five hits with a career-high eightstrikeouts. Florida's pitchers combined for 19 strikeouts.

"This is one of the stronger outings I've had this year,"VandenHurk said. "I started attacking guys and keeping my stufflow in the zone. I executed the right pitch at the right time.I tried to keep them off-balance, and it was working."

Braves starter John Smoltz tossed six innings, giving up threeruns and five hits with seven strikeouts. Smoltz pitched onjust three days' rest for the first time this season aftergetting the win in a 7-2 victory Friday against the St. LouisCardinals.


"This is as good as I've ever seen him pitch," Braves managerBobby Cox said. "He made one bad pitch, and that was toHermida."


The Braves put runners on second and third with none out in thefifth, but VandenHurk pitched out of the jam with some defensivehelp from right fielder Hermida.


Both Smoltz and Willie Harris flied out to right, but strongthrows to the plate by Hermida kept Andruw Jones at third.VandenHurk then struck out Johnson to get out of the inning.

VandenHurk got into another jam in the sixth after letting thefirst two batters reach base. He was relieved by Matt Lindstromand again got help as, after Brian McCann flied to left,Lindstrom struck out Jeff Francoeur and Andruw Jones to end thethreat.


"We can't find a way to win a baseball game," Smoltz said. "Youmake one mistake and it costs you. We had a lot ofopportunities, but we didn't cash in."


Hermida gave the Marlins a 2-1 advantage in the second byblasting his 14th home run of the season to right.

"We've lost a lot of close games like this year," Hermida said."This was big. It felt good to get a win out of this."

Florida stretched its lead to 3-1 in the third, when Jacobs'single plated Dan Uggla, who reached first safely when shortstopYunel Escobar's throw pulled Mark Teixeira off the bag.

The Braves scored first on McCann's solo homer in the secondinning, his 17th blast of the season.