Marlins Making Push
Florida was 3 1/2 games out of first place in the NL East on
July 5, but has pulled into a second-place tie with the New York Mets.
The Florida Marlins look to win four straight series for the first time
in two years when they wrap up their three-game set against the Atlanta
Braves on Wednesday.
Oddsmakers from SBG Global
have made Atlanta -120 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for tonight’s game, the over/under has
been set at 8.5 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 51% of bets for this game have been placed on Atlanta -120 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
The Marlins defeated the Braves 4-0 on
Tuesday to win for the ninth time in 13 games. Florida is one victory
away from winning four straight series for the first time since June
9-22, 2006.
The Marlins had just four hits Tuesday after getting
only two in Monday’s series-opening 4-0 loss, but that was enough to
back Rick VandenHurk, who was recalled from the minors to start
Tuesday’s game. VandenHurk threw five no-hit innings, and combined with
three relievers on a one-hitter.
Mike Jacobs provided all the
offense VandenHurk would need with a three-run home run in the fourth,
his 20th of the season but just his second since June 26.
Chipper Jones got the Braves’ lone hit with a lead-off single in the sixth inning off Joe Nelson.
"I
was jokingly going to ask (manager Fredi Gonzalez) for the scorecard,
because I’ve never been part of a one-hitter," Nelson said.
"Unfortunately the box score is going to say I was the one who gave it
up. You know what? That’s fine. We won the game."
Atlanta
(47-53), which has lost three of four, was one-hit for the second time
in 11 games. It also happened July 7 against Hiroki Kuroda of the Los
Angeles Dodgers.
Jones is 2-for-7 this series after batting .594
(19-for-32) with five home runs and eight RBIs in his first eight games
of the season against Florida. The All-Star third baseman will look to
get things turned around Wednesday, as he’s batting .643 (9-for-14)
with three homers and three doubles lifetime against scheduled starterRicky Nolasco (10-5, 3.78 ERA).
After going 3-0 with a 1.86 ERA
in his final four starts before the All-Star break, Nolasco gave up
four runs and seven hits in seven innings of a 4-2 loss to Philadelphia
on Friday, his first defeat since June 5 to Atlanta.
Nolasco has
had no luck against the Braves this season, as he’s been pounded for 13
runs and 21 hits – including seven home runs – in losing both of his
starts against them. He went 1-1 with a 1.99 ERA in his first four
starts versus Atlanta.
The Braves counter with Tim Hudson (10-7, 3.31), who seeks his first road win since May 12 against Pittsburgh.
Hudson
gave up five runs and nine hits in 6 2-3 innings of a 7-6 win over
Washington on Friday. The right-hander has been tagged for at least
five runs in three of his last six starts, and is 0-4 with a 4.86 ERA
in his last six outings away from Turner Field.
He took the loss
at Dolphin Stadium in his only start against the Marlins this season,
allowing four runs and six hits in three innings of a 6-5 defeat. That
was his first career loss at Florida after going 4-0 with a 2.27 ERA in
six starts there.
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