MIAMI -- The Atlanta Braves suffered yet another one run defeat on Wednesday, a familiar plight that is beginning to become a theme thus far this season. Tim Hudson was tagged for four runs in just three innings and Jeff Bennett gave up a late homer to Luis Gonzalez that sealed the Florida Marlins 6-5 win.
Hudson (2-1) was clearly not himself on the mound, with his velocity down nearly seven miles per hour on his fastball. On the night, Hudson surrendered four earned runs on six hits and a walk, needing 58 pitches to do so.
After Jorge Cantu collected a run-scoring single to the game at 1-1, Hanley Ramirez struck the big blow in Florida's three-run second inning. His two-run single gave the Marlins a lead that they would not relinquish. Mike Jacobs belted his sixth homer of the season off Hudson in the third, capping the scoring against the Atlanta starter.
Jacobs' solo-shot puts him in a three-way tie for most homers in the Major Leagues. Derrek Lee of the Chicago Cubs and Carlos Pena of the Tampa Bay Rays also have six circuit blasts.
The Braves found themselves clawing back into the game in the middle innings. Jorge Campillo pitched brilliantly again, tossing three no-hit innings in relief of Hudson. Yunel Escobar connected for a two-run homer, his second of the season, against Hendrickson in the fifth to cut the Florida lead down to 4-3.
Atlanta threatened again in the sixth, putting two men on with only one out and chasing Hendrickson from the game. Justin Miller came on and induced Matt Diaz to ground into an inning ending double play and preserve the lead.
Hendrickson (3-1) pitched effectively for most of the evening, lasting five and a third innings and allowing three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out one. The Marlins employed five relievers after Hendrickson to get the final 11 outs.
The veteran pinch-hitter Gonzalez victimized Bennett for a two-run shot in the seventh that would prove the be the difference maker for Florida. Atlanta immediately answered with two of their own in the eighth but another inning-ending double play spoiled the rally.
Kevin Gregg struck out a pair and pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to notch his third save of the season and give the Marlins their NL East leading ninth win of the season, against five defeats.
Meanwhile, the Braves fell to just 2-6 on the current roadtrip and 5-9 on the season. Wednesday's loss marked the seventh this season that has come by only one run. Chipper Jones went 1-for-4 and is now hitting .404 on the year. Former teammate Rafael Furcal supplanted Jones as the leading hitter in the NL with a .407 mark.
On Deck: Atlanta will send John Smoltz to the mound in the final game of the roadtrip. He will face Ricky Nolasco. Game time is set for 7:10 PM EST.