ATLANTA -- Had they lost Tuesday, the Marlins would have eliminated themselves from the playoff picture. But in defeating the Atlanta Braves 5-4, they bought themselves a bit of extra time -- but only for a bit.

Shortly after their victory at Turner Field, the Marlins retreated to the clubhouse and turned on the television to watch the Colorado Rockies, whom they watched defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 7-5 in 11 innings to eliminate the Marlins.

Not that much hope was left lingering anyway. The Marlins had known for days the playoffs wouldn't involve them -- not without a miracle.

But they could take small grains of satisfaction in putting a dent in Atlanta's playoff chances, in securing the club's first winning road record in franchise history (with Tuesday's win, they can finish no worse than 41-40 away from home), and in reaching personal milestones.

Noted reliever Brendan Donnelly: ``You have to find something to play for when you've screwed things up to this point. If you can't go [to the postseason], you don't want them to go either.''

The Marlins ended the Braves' seven-game winning streak.

Dan Uggla and Cameron Maybin each hit home runs, Chris Coghlan continued to strengthen his case as a top contender for NL Rookie of the Year honors with three more hits, and the back end of the Marlins' bullpen stuffed the Braves the final three innings to protect a one-run lead and preserve the win.

While starting pitcher Josh Johnson failed to receive a decision, he managed to turn in five innings after being scratched from Sunday's start because of flu-like symptoms. And no matter what he does on Sunday in Philadelphia when he makes his final start of the season, he'll still finish with the best winning percentage ever by a Marlins starter.

``I know he still doesn't feel good at all,'' Uggla said of Johnson. ``But he stuck it out.''

Johnson left the game with a 4-1 lead thanks to a solo home run by Uggla, his 31st of the season, and a two-run shot by Maybin.

DROUGHT ENDS

And Johnson aided his own case when he drove in a run with an RBI double in the second inning, a run that ended a 22-inning scoreless drought. The Marlins hadn't scored since Saturday.

Johnson did his best pitching in the fifth when he worked out of a bases-loaded jam by getting Brian McCann to end the inning on an infield pop after falling behind 3-0 in the count.

Johnson surpassed the 200-innings plateau for the first time in his career, but it can't be said that he's been an innings-eater over the final month of the season. For the fourth time in five starts this month, Johnson on Tuesday went exactly five innings -- or just long enough to earn the decision.

But he didn't receive one as normally reliable reliever Brain Sanches gave up a three-run home run to Matt Diaz that tied the score.

The Marlins regained the lead in the seventh on Jorge Cantu's RBI single, but left the bases loaded when Eric O'Flaherty took over for Kenshin Kawakami and retired John Baker on a ground out.

Cantu has now recorded 95 RBI in two consecutive seasons.

After Cantu put them on top, the Marlins received strong bullpen performances from Renyel Pinto, Donnelly and Leo Nuņez to shut out the Braves over the final three innings. Nuņez earned his 25th save.

COGHLAN AT .319

With three hits, Coghlan raised his average to .319, which ties him with Cincinnati's Joey Votto for fifth in the National League. Coghlan has 106 hits since the All-Star break, most in the majors.

His 46 hits in September are the most by any rookie in that month since 1940.

``He's been amazing,'' Cantu said. ``What a way to come into the big leagues and perform like that.''

Said manager Fredi Gonzalez: ``I hope the baseball writers are watching this because he's putting up Rookie of the Year numbers.''