Utterly excruciating.

Braves reliever Peter Moylan walked in the tie-breaking run in the seventh inning, and reliever Blaine Boyer had a brutal outing in the ninth inning of 10-4 loss to the Florida Marlins Wednesday night at Turner Field.

The Marlins scored five runs in the ninth --- four charged to Boyer --- and improved their majors' best record (7-1) with their second win in as many nights against the Braves (5-3).

"We can't hit guys and walk guys in the late innings --- we've never done that before, not much," said manager Bobby Cox, who watched Moylan and Boyer hit a batter apiece, and give up a combined five hits and three walks. "But we've done it this year."

The Braves need a win in Thursday afternoon's series finale to avoid being swept by the Marlins, after starting this six-game homestand by sweeping Washington.

After scoring four runs in five innings against Braves ace Derek Lowe, the Marlins got their fifth run when Moylan hit Cody Ross and walked Ross Gload with the bases loaded and two out in the seventh to give Florida a 5-4 lead.

"I'm just at a frustrating point right now," said Moylan (0-1), who had struck out four in two perfect innings in his previous two appearances, before reverting to April 8 form Wednesday.

In the Braves' 12-11 loss at Philadelphia on April 8, relievers issued four bases-loaded walks --- including one by Moylan and two by Boyer --- during an eight-run seventh inning that obliterated a seven-run lead.

"Two outings in a row, I'm lights-out," Moylan said. "Tonight the ball was sinking, but I just couldn't control it. Coming back from Tommy John [elbow] surgery, that's one of the last things to come, is control."

Moylan had ligament-transplant elbow surgery 11 1/2 months ago, an operation that typically requires a 12-month (or longer) rehab for pitchers. He said his arm felt great again Wednesday.

Moylan has a 20.25 ERA in five appearances, while Boyer has a 40.50 ERA in three after giving up four runs while recording one out Wednesday. He has been charged with six runs in 1 1/3 innings.

"I'm not worried about Moylan --- at all," Cox said.

Lowe entered Wednesday on one of the best stretches of his career, with a 7-1 record and 1.20 ERA in 12 starts dating to Aug. 11, including 5-0 with an 0.57 ERA in his last eight before Wednesday.

But against the Marlins, the veteran sinkerballer's usual pinpoint control was off from the outset. He was charged with four runs, seven hits and five walks. The walks matched a career high.

"I can't remember the last time I walked five guys in a game," said Lowe, who hadn't done it since a pair of five-walk games in a three-start span in September 2007 with the Dodgers.

Lowe had two walks and a wild pitch in the first inning, when the Marlins scored once and left the bases loaded.

NEXT FOR Braves

* Who: vs. Marlins

* When: 12:10 p.m. today

* TV; radio: SPSO; 640/96.1

On ajc.com/sports: Go online this afternoon to keep up with the Braves' series finale against the Marlins.