Six-run first fuels Atlanta's victory

ATLANTA - For all the talk a few days ago that the Atlanta Braves were working on a blockbuster trade with the White Sox, it was fitting that Andruw Jones delivered the crippling blow in Thursday night's 9-1 win against the Florida Marlins.

Jones deprived the Marlins of a split by lining a two-out, bases-loaded double to key a six-run first inning at Turner Field.

"It was the biggest clutch hit tonight," manager Bobby Cox said. "That was a big first inning for us. It reversed the tables for a change."

The way the Braves responded to being a season-high 6 1 games out just eight days ago - on the heels of back-to-back losses to these same Marlins - demonstrates an awareness of what closer John Smoltz labeled the season's most important stretch of games leading into the All-Star break.

The Braves, now two games under .500 and 31 games out, passed a test by winning three of four from the Marlins, who fell into second place with their sixth loss in eight games.

"We're on a good roll right now," Jones said. "We're playing the way we should be playing. If we continue playing this way, we'll be fine."

Atlanta's offense tattooed Marlins starter Michael Tejera and reliever Aaron Small with three hits - two for extra bases - and a pair of walks.

Tejera, who was sent to the minors after the game, didn't record an out.

Small, recalled from Class AAA Albuquerque, was pressed into duty by Tejera's brief outing. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound right-hander momentarily dodged trouble by striking out Johnny Estrada and inducing Julio Franco to pop up, but Jones whistled a bases-clearing double off the wall and Eli Marrero followed with his fifth home run to make it 6-0.

The Braves out-hit the Marlins 48-30 and out-scored them 28-13 in the four games. The Braves have had five runs or more six times in the last eight games

Reach Bill Zack at bzack30143@aol.com.