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Braves try to keep playoff hopes alive in finale with Marlins

(Sports Network) - Lefty Chuck James looks for his third win against Florida in four decisions tonight when the Atlanta Braves close out a three-game series with the Marlins at Turner Field.

The Braves, who won 4-3 on Tuesday, are still clinging to faint playoff hopes. They trail San Diego by 5 1/2 games in the National League's wild card race, as the Padres beat Pittsburgh, 5-3, on Monday.

James, who'll be 26 in November, pulled himself to the .500 mark for the season with a 9-2 defeat of Washington on September 8 in Atlanta. He was roughed up in his last start, also against the Nationals, allowing six hits and three runs in 3 2/3 innings, getting a no-decision in an 8-5 Atlanta win on September 14.

He's faced the Marlins four times in his career - three starts - and is 2-1 with a 1.54 earned run average in 23 1/3 innings.

Florida goes with lefty Dontrelle Willis, who halted a five-start winless streak in his last outing.

The 25-year-old Oakland native scattered seven hits and allowed five runs over six innings on September 14 at Colorado, defeating the Rockies, 7-6, to snap a skid that had resulted in three losses and two no-decisions since August 14.

He dropped a 7-4 decision to the Braves on August 29 in Florida, allowing eight hits and six runs in 5 1/3 innings. Willis is 6-5 in 18 lifetime starts against Atlanta with a 4.92 ERA.

On Tuesday, Brian McCann singled in the eventual winning run, as the Braves downed the Marlins, 4-3.

Jo-Jo Reyes (1-2) allowed one run on three hits, with seven strikeouts and three walks over five frames in his eighth big-league start for Atlanta. Yunel Escobar had three hits, and Matt Diaz notched a pair of hits and a pair of runs scored.

Rafael Soriano tossed a perfect ninth for his seventh save this season.

Florida lefty Chris Seddon (0-1) allowed four runs -- three earned -- on nine hits over 4 2/3 innings in the second start of his career. Miguel Cabrera ended 2-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs for the Marlins, who lost their third straight.

The Braves have won three in a row over the Marlins and now lead the season series 9-8.

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