Sep 17, 2007, 14:53 GMT
- Veteran John Smoltz takes the hill against one of his favorite foes tonight as the Atlanta Braves look to keep fleeting playoff hopes alive in the opener of a three-game series with the visiting Florida Marlins at Turner Field.
The Braves are 5 1/2 games behind the San Diego Padres in the NL wild-card race.
Smoltz, who has allowed just seven hits and three runs over 13 innings while going 1-0 in his last two starts, is 13-6 lifetime against Florida with 20 saves in 54 appearances. He's posted a 2.75 earned run average against the Marlins in 193 innings of work.
The 40-year-old right-hander last faced them on August 28 in Florida, getting a no-decision while allowing six hits and three runs over six innings of a 4-3 Atlanta loss.
Right-hander Byung-Hyun Kim was the winner in relief in that matchup, allowing a hit in one scoreless inning, and starts for Florida tonight.
The South Korean export has shifted between bullpen and starting duty while also juggling teams this season. He made one start in three appearances with Colorado, started a pair of games for Arizona and has made 16 starts in 20 overall appearances for the Marlins.
In his last outing, on Wednesday against Washington, he allowed seven hits and four runs in 5 2/3 innings, getting a no-decision in Florida's 5-4 victory.
On Sunday in Colorado, Franklin Morales combined with three relievers on a five-hit shutout as Colorado routed Florida, 13-0, to avoid a sweep in the finale of a three-game set Coors Field.
Scott Olsen (9-14) was touched for six runs on eight hits in just two-plus innings of work en route to the loss for Florida.
In Washington, Tim Hudson tossed his 10th career shutout and first of the season, as the Braves blanked the Nationals, 3-0, in the finale of a three- game set at RFK Stadium.
Hudson (16-8), who entered with a three-game losing streak, yielded seven hits while walking one and striking out six.
Kelly Johnson homered and Mark Teixeira knocked in two runs for the Braves, who had lost four of their previous six games.
Florida has an 8-7 edge in its season series with Atlanta this year, and has won four of six at Turner Field.
© 2007 The Sports Network
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