Pair Of Aces Highlight Braves/Marlins Matchup
(Sports Network) - A pair of 10-game winners get together at Dolphin Stadium tonight, when the Atlanta Braves take on the Florida Marlins in the finale of a three-game series.The Braves will start veteran right-hander Tim Hudson, who won three of his final five decisions prior to the All-Star break to reach double-digit victories for the 10th consecutive season. The Columbus, GA native, who turned 33 last week, made his final first-half start on July 18 and earned a 7-6 win over Washington after allowing nine hits and five runs over 6 2/3 innings. He's 6-2 in 12 career starts against the Marlins, though he did drop a 6-5 verdict to them on April 16 this season after surrendering six hits and four runs in just three innings of work. For Florida, right-hander Ricky Nolasco tries to get back on the winning side of the ledger. The Californian was 5-4 on the season after a 7-5 loss to the Braves on June 5 in Atlanta, but subsequently reeled off five straight victories to reach double-digit wins for the second time in three years. His final pre-break start ended in his fifth loss of 2008, however, when he gave up seven hits and four runs in seven innings of a 4-2 defeat by the Philadelphia Phillies. He is 1-3 with a 4.63 earned run average in 35 career innings against the Braves. On Tuesday, Mike Jacobs hit a three-run homer and the Marlins pitching staff combined on a one-hitter as Florida defeated Atlanta, 4-0. Jacobs was 2-for-3 in the win while John Baker recorded the other RBI with a bases-loaded walk for Florida, which has won three of its last four. Rick Vanden Hurk (1-1) did not allow a hit or a run, but issued five walks in accumulating 94 pitches, and was pulled after five innings of work. The lanky right-hander struck out seven in his first start since April 6. Joe Nelson threw a scoreless inning and allowed Atlanta's only hit, while Renyel Pinto shut down the Braves for two innings and Matt Lindstrom completed the one-hit effort for the Marlins staff with a perfect ninth. Charlie Morton (2-3) pitched relatively well but was stung by the three-run homer from Jacobs. He gave up four runs on only two hits and four walks through 5 2/3 frames. The right-hander struck out five in the loss. Chipper Jones had the only hit for Atlanta, which has dropped three of four. Atlanta has won six of its 11 meetings with the Marlins this season.
Copyright 2008 Courtesy of The Sports Network.











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