Miami, FL (Best E Casino) - Mike Jacobs hit a three-run homer and the Marlins pitching staff combined on a one-hitter, as Florida defeated Atlanta, 4-0, in the middle contest of a three-game set.
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 VandenHurk (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.
"It's a big win," Nelson said. "If we score four (runs) we usually have a pretty good chance (to win) especially the way the starters are throwing now. I'm bummed I gave up the hit, believe me, none of these guys are going to let me forget it. It's still a one-hit shutout, so we'll take it."
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.
"The guys are going good job, it's just one pitch, but it's one pitch that cost the game," Morton said of Jacobs' home run. "So when I grade myself, I just take it as a loss and I didn't pitch well enough to win."
Chipper Jones had the only hit for Atlanta, which has dropped three of four.
VandenHurk started the fourth by walking the bases full but battled back to get Jeff Francoeur and Kelly Johnson swinging before Mark Kotsay popped up to end the inning.
"We didn't get the job done in the inning we had the biggest chance," Johnson said of the Braves chances in the fourth. "After that, I think the momentum swung a little bit with the home run and the next thing you know you're down three nothing and just fighting to get on the board in the hit column."
Jacobs made the Braves pay in the home half, blasting a three-run homer out to the seats in right. Jorge Cantu and Dan Uggla worked a free pass each prior to Jacobs' at-bat.
In the sixth, Morton walked Josh Willingham but retired Uggla on a fly out for the second out and Royce Ring entered to face Jacobs. Jacobs beat out a wild throw from shortstop Yunel Escobar at first with both runners advancing. Ring issued an intentional free pass to Cody Ross and then an unintentional one to Baker, forcing in a run. Blaine Boyer came on to strike out pinch-hitter Wes Helms, limiting the damage.
Nelson allowed a single to Jones in the top of the sixth, but Atlanta's lineup didn't get another hit, or put another runner on base the rest of the game.
Game Notes
Atlanta leads the season series 6-5...Wednesday's series finale features Atlanta's Tim Hudson (10-7) and Florida's Ricky Nolasco (10-5)...Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox was suspended one game and fined an undisclosed amount of money for his inappropriate conduct and comments during Sunday's 15-6 blowout loss to the Washington Nationals, Major League Baseball announced Tuesday. Cox sat out Tuesday's game...This was the Marlins ninth one-hitter in team history and fourth combined one-hitter...Hanley Ramirez snapped an 0-15 slide with a single. It was his longest hitless streak this season. This marked the 10th time Atlanta was shutout this season while Florida recorded its fifth shutout on the year.
