J.J. looks to get Miami back on track vs. Braves
Tune into FOX Sports Florida at 6:30 p.m. to watch the Miami Marlins take on the Atlanta Braves.
Dan Uggla had plenty of good moments during his five seasons in Florida as a member of the Marlins.
No matter the ballpark, he's been pretty dangerous as a visitor with the Atlanta Braves.
Uggla looks to stay hot and help Atlanta earn its ninth victory in its last 11 road meetings with Miami when the NL East rivals continue their three-game set Wednesday night.
Uggla finished third in NL rookie of the year voting in 2006 - when then-Marlins teammate Hanley Ramirez won the award - and finished with at least 31 homers in each of his last four seasons in Miami.
The Marlins traded their second baseman to Atlanta for Omar Infante prior to last season, and he's continued to play well in the Sunshine State in his new uniform.
He went 4 for 5 with two homers - including a 432-foot blast for the 200th of his career - a double and a two-run single in Atlanta's 11-0 win over Miami on Tuesday, his first visit to the new Marlins Park. It was Uggla's first four-hit game since joining the Braves (30-25), and raised his average to .300 in 10 career road games against the Marlins (31-24).
Uggla is also batting .407 with four homers and 12 RBIs in his last eight games overall.
"I heard it," Uggla said of his second homer that hit the sculpture in center field. "I didn't see where it hit. They told me I hit the sun. I was like, `Aw man, that was cool.'
"I hope to have many more."
Uggla has helped Atlanta win four of five following an eight-game losing streak that ended with the help of Randall Delgado (3-5, 4.58 ERA), who will be on the mound again Wednesday.
Delgado went 0-5 with a 4.58 ERA in his previous seven starts before allowing three runs in 5 1-3 innings of a 5-4 win over St. Louis on May 29, ending Atlanta's skid.
The right-hander is 1-0 with a 0.90 ERA in two career starts versus the Marlins, but will be up against a tough counterpart Wednesday in resurgent Josh Johnson (3-3, 4.83).
The Miami right-hander is 3-0 with a 3.09 ERA in his last five starts after allowing three runs in six innings of a 5-3 victory over Washington last Wednesday. He has thrown 63 1-3 innings this season after tossing only 60 1-3 all of 2011 due to right shoulder inflammation, but seems only to be growing stronger.
"Physically, I feel great," Johnson, who is 5-3 with a 2.29 ERA in 15 starts and one relief appearance lifetime versus the Braves, told the Marlins' official website. "I'm still having some ups and downs, but I'm a little more comfortable each time out. It seems like consistency still isn't there, but it is coming."
The Marlins had won seven of nine prior to Tuesday's loss.
"A game like that, you just have to turn the page and be ready for tomorrow," manager Ozzie Guillen said.
Miami shortstop Jose Reyes singled Tuesday to extended his hitting streak to 15 games, the longest active streak in the majors. He is batting .371 during his run.