MIAMI (Ticker) -- Greg Maddux finally had a performance worthy of his high standards.
Off to his worst start in 15 years, Maddux allowed just a run and two hits in six innings and Vinny Castilla had a homer and five RBI as the Atlanta Braves posted a 7-1 win over the Florida Marlins.
Maddux (1-3) had been tagged for 24 runs - 18 earned - and 29 hits in 14 2/3 innings and had lost his first three decisions for the first time since 1989. Included in that stretch was an outing against the Marlins on April 5 in which he allowed seven earned runs in two innings.
"You don't have to be a very good hitter to hit a ball down the middle," Maddux said of his outing eight days ago. "I threw a lot of pitches down the middle, and they're very good hitters."
But the veteran righthander settled in early Sunday, tossing a scoreless first inning for the first time this season. Maddux also retired the final nine batters he faced before being replaced by Roberto Hernandez to start the seventh.
"It felt good to help us win. It's no fun losing," Maddux said. "When you're fighting yourself, you've got to fight every pitch. I fought every pitch today. Hopefully, next time out, I can relax a little bit. I didn't really settle down the way I like to. My mechanics were better, my location was better."
"I think it's important," Braves coach Bobby Cox said. "Randy Johnson is looking to get the first one under his belt, too. So is (Curt) Schilling and Pedro (Martinez). It's good to get the first one out of the way, that's for sure."
Maddux had thrown just 59 pitches when he came out with stiffness in the left side of his neck. He is not expected to miss his next start.
"It's a little stiff. It didn't bother me much," Maddux said.
"He's an artist," Marlins manager Jeff Torborg said. "He showed he was human to start the season, he does that occasionally."
Castilla had an RBI single off Florida starter Mark Redman (1-2) in the second inning and drew a walk with the bases loaded in the third to help the Braves open a 4-1 advantage. The third baseman capped the scoring with a three-run homer in the ninth.
"I didn't fare my best," Redman said. "I fell behind hitters. It's not my game, I didn't have it today."
Mike Lowell had a solo shot, but Juan Pierre's franchise-record season-opening 12-game hitting streak came to an end as the Marlins had their four-game winning streak snapped.
"He pitched with a lead, that's pretty much it," Pierre said. "He threw down in the zone, that's typical Maddux."
The Braves scored three times in the second to give Maddux a working lead.
Andruw Jones walked with one out and Julio Franco doubled him home.
Castilla followed with a single to left-center field, knocking in Franco and increasing Atlanta's lead to 2-0.
There were runners on first and second when Maddux attempted to bunt, but Redman got Castilla in a force at third. However, Rafael Furcal's double plated Henry Blanco to make it 3-0.
Lowell continued his success against Maddux with one out in the bottom of the second. The third baseman drove the first pitch 440 feet over the left field wall to pull Florida within two.
"What did you think (Maddux) was going to do, go 2-14?," Lowell quipped. "He's won 15 games for 15 straight years."
Lowell improved his career batting average against the four-time Cy Young Award winner to .381 (16-for-42) with four home runs.
The Braves had restored their three-run advantage when Castilla drove the first pitch from reliever Vladimir Nunez 396 feet over the left field wall for his second home run of the season.
"We go out there and Greg pitched like him(self) and we came up with some big hits," Castilla said. "He's a great pitcher. He figured out what he was doing wrong and fixed it."
Atlanta closer John Smoltz yielded a hit and struck out four in two scoreless innings to record his third saves.
