Recap: Atlanta vs. Florida
Sports Network | August 27, 2008
Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Josh Johnson's brilliant four-hitter marked the first complete game of his career and Dan Uggla was the offensive catalyst, as the Florida Marlins defeated the Atlanta Braves, 4-1, and evened their three- game series at Turner Field. Johnson (4-0) took a no-hitter into the fifth and allowed one run to go along with the four hits and eight strikeouts for the Marlins, who rebounded after blowing a ninth-inning lead in Tuesday's 10-9 series-opening loss. Uggla homered and scored three runs while Hanley Ramirez knocked in two runs in the win. Florida, which improved to 68-65, has not been able to string together consecutive wins since the end of July. Kelly Johnson scored the lone run for the Braves, who have lost eight of their last 10 games. Mike Hampton (2-2) produced a solid outing but suffered the loss after he surrendered three runs on eight hits with five strikeouts and two walks over eight innings of work. The Marlins opened the scoring in the top of the third inning. Uggla led off with a double and scored when Wes Helms followed with a single. A pair of Florida runs in the fifth gave the visitors a three-run edge as Ramirez clubbed a two-run single that scored Uggla and Helms. Johnson yielded his first hit of the game with one out in the fifth. He induced a groundout by lead off batter Brian McCann, but Johnson then hit a triple. When Martin Prado grounded out, Johnson crossed the plate to bring Atlanta within 3-1. Johnson continued his stellar outing with a scoreless sixth, which was ended by a 6-4-3 double play, and a 1-2-3 seventh. Atlanta threatened in the eighth. A throwing error by Ramirez allowed lead off batter Prado to reach first base safely and Jeff Francoeur singled to right field. Brandon Jones followed with a bunt to put runners on second and third with one out. Johnson settled down and fanned Greg Norton and Gregor Blanco in succession and the Marlins went into the ninth still holding their lead. The scoring was capped by Uggla's bomb in the top of the ninth. He turned on a Blaine Boyer offering and crushed it into the seats in deep left field. The blast was estimated to have travelled at least 430 feet. In the ninth, Johnson yielded a one-out single off the bat of Chipper Jones and issued a two-out walk to Johnson, but Prado grounded out to end the game. Game Notes Johnson improved to 3-1 in seven career starts against Atlanta. He threw 113 pitches, 80 for strikes...Hampton's 2008 earned run average is 5.85...Uggla has 28 homers this season...Francoeur had two of the Braves' four hits...The contest was completed in a swift 2 hours, 16 minutes...Attendance was 19,755. Game Notes Johnson improved to 3-1 in seven career starts against Atlanta. He threw 113 pitches, 80 for strikes...Hampton's 2008 earned run average is 5.85...Uggla has 28 homers this season...Francoeur had two of the Braves' four hits...The contest was completed in a swift 2 hours, 16 minutes...Attendance was 19,755.
