During the Atlanta Braves' longest win streak of the season, manager Bobby Cox said all of his players were doing their jobs. Cox couldn't have said the same during his club's last game.
After matching their largest margin of defeat while having their five-game run snapped, the Braves look to rebound as they open a two-game series against the NL East rival Florida Marlins at Turner Field on Wednesday.After a slow start, Atlanta (10-10) put everything together during a five-game win streak during which it outscored opponents 31-6. The Braves batted .339 and posted a 1.00 ERA in that stretch.
On Tuesday, however, starter John Smoltz didn't get much help from his teammates. Smoltz held Washington to one run and five hits in seven innings, and struck out 10 to become the 16th pitcher in major league history to pass 3,000 strikeouts. But the Braves managed only five hits, and the bullpen faltered in the 6-0 defeat.
"Very disappointing," Braves catcher Brian McCann told the team's official Web site. "It was a special day and we didn't do our part."
The Braves hope to get back on track against the Marlins (12-8), who have gotten off to a hot start thanks in part to their 8-4 record against division rivals. Florida won two of three against Atlanta when the teams met in Miami from April 15-17, but the Braves took the finale 8-0 to start their five-game run.
The Marlins had averaged 7.3 runs and batted .348 during a three-game win streak before stranding eight runners during a 3-2 loss to Pittsburgh on Tuesday night. They were 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position in that defeat.
They could use a more complete offensive effort with Andrew Miller (0-2, 9.68 ERA) taking the mound. The 22-year-old left-hander is still looking for his first win since July 18 of last season, which he spent with Detroit before joining Florida in the Miguel Cabrera trade in December.
Miller, though, is coming off his best start as a Marlin. He had given up at least five runs in each of his first three outings before holding Washington to three runs in five innings in Florida's 6-4 loss on Friday.
Despite faring better than he had in previous outings, Miller was frustrated that he couldn't get out of the sixth inning. In his first four starts, he's totaled only 17 2-3 innings.
"I felt like I was rushing, there was no rhythm," Miller said. "I was either way off the plate or down the middle. You can't pitch like that here."
In his only previous start against the Braves, Miller held them to four hits in six stellar innings in a 5-0 victory on June 24.
Miller will match up against Atlanta's Jeff Bennett (0-0, 4.19), a reliever who has fared well in two starts. He has a 2.08 ERA in those games, and held the Los Angeles Dodgers scoreless with two hits in 4 2-3 innings in his last start - a 6-1 win on Friday.
Bennett has an 18.90 ERA in three career relief appearances against the Marlins.
