VandenHurk, 3 relievers 1-hit Braves, lift Marlins

[July 23, 2008]  MIAMI (AP) -- Rick VandenHurk and three relievers combined on a one-hitter, and Mike Jacobs hit a three-run homer to help the Florida Marlins beat the Atlanta Braves 4-0 Tuesday night.

VandenHurk (1-1), recalled Monday from Double-A Carolina, pitched five hitless innings for his first win since last Aug. 23. He walked five and left the game after throwing 94 pitches.

Chipper Jones led off the sixth with a line-drive single up the middle off Joe Nelson, but Nelson retired the next three batters, Renyel Pinto pitched two perfect innings, and Matt Lindstrom pitched a 1-2-3 ninth.

The one-hit performance was the best by Florida since Anibal Sanchez threw a no-hitter against Arizona on Sept. 6, 2006. The one-hitter was the ninth for the Marlins, and they've thrown four no-hitters.

The Braves were one-hit for the second time in 15 days. It also happened July 7 against Hiroki Kuroda of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The game's first hit -- Jacobs' homer -- came on the 151st pitch. Charlie Morton (2-3) walked Jorge Cantu and Dan Uggla in the fourth, and with two out Jacobs hit his 20th homer.

Florida had only three other hits. Royce Ring walked John Baker with the bases loaded to force in a run in the sixth. Morton allowed two hits and four runs in 5 2-3 innings.

The Braves were without manager Bobby Cox, who served a one-game suspension for a tirade he threw in Sunday's loss to the Washington Nationals.

With the game scoreless, VandenHurk got into a jam when he walked three in a row to start the fourth inning. He struck out Jeff Francoeur and Kelly Johnson, and Mark Kotsay popped out.

Atlanta's Mark Teixera hit a ball into the right-field stands barely foul with a runner on in that inning.

VandenHurk was sent to the minors in early April after giving up seven runs in 5 1-3 innings in his first two starts of the season. He was recalled to replace left-hander Andrew Miller, who was placed on the disabled list last week because of a sore knee.

Florida's Hanley Ramirez broke an 0-for-15 slide, his longest hitless streak this season, when he singled in the seventh.

Notes: Braves SS Yunel Escobar (sore left shoulder) was in the lineup for the first time since July 9 and went 0-for-4. ... Marlins C Matt Treanor (hip) took batting practice for the second day in a row. ... Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said LHP Andrew Miller (right knee) looked fine throwing on back to back days...

[Associated Press; By SOLANGE REYNER]

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