Miller went six innings and allowed one run, but he didn't figure in the decision as the Mississippi Braves beat the Suns 3-2 in a Southern League game in front of 6,224 at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.

The Marlins placed Miller on the disabled list on April 20 with a strained right oblique. He was first assigned to Class-A Jupiter, where pitched four innings and allowed three hits and one run in a no-decision outing last Wednesday.

On Monday, he threw 85 pitches, 50 for strikes. The 6-foot-6 left-hander will turn 24 in nine days.

"The medical side of it is good and clear," Miller said. "I got a little out of whack for a couple of innings out there today, but generally, it was pretty good. I'll take it.

"I think the injury is a done issue. The strain is no longer an issue, and I think that's what we wanted to make sure was cleared up. That's what these rehab outings were for."

Miller gave up a hit in four of the first five innings, but only in the third was Mississippi (14-16) able to push across a run against him. He walked two and struck out five.

Miller, who was born in Gainesville and starred for the University of North Carolina, was taken by the Detroit Tigers with the sixth overall pick in the 2006 draft. He was traded to the Marlins as part of the blockbuster deal that sent slugger Miguel Cabrera and left-hander Dontrelle Willis to Detroit on Dec. 5, 2007.

Miller said he expects to hear from the Marlins in the next day or two but thinks he's ready to rejoin the club.

Florida is in Milwaukee today for the start of a series against the Brewers. The Marlins then have a 10-day homestand, starting with a series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.

Miller would like to be in the rotation for the Dodgers series.

"I'd like to think I'll be there, but I'll wait to see what the Marlins say," Miller said. "Everything is kind of up in the air right now. But I certainly feel I'm where I need to be."

So does Suns manager Brandon Hyde.

"I thought he looked good today. His fastball is up to 96, 97, and he looked healthy," Hyde said. "He had good stuff today, went up to his pitch count and looked strong at the end."

Hyde wasn't as pleased with the rest of the team. The Suns (16-15) struck out 12 times, scoring their runs on an RBI single by Miller and when Chris de la Cruz was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

"We play flat a lot, and today was an example, and that's disappointing with the talent on this team," Hyde said. "... We're leading the league in hitting, but we're also leading the league in strikeouts, which kills rallies."

The Suns and Braves resume their series at 7:05 p.m. today, with Jacksonville sending left-hander Graham Taylor (3-1, 2.34) against Mississippi right-hander Ryne Reynoso (1-2, 5.13).

jeff.elliott@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4292