ATLANTA -- A familiar pattern fell into place for the Marlins in their series with the Braves. In all three games, Florida scored first, but each time, Atlanta rallied to victory.

Powered by Marcus Giles' two-run homer and three RBIs, the Braves completed a sweep of the Marlins, claiming a 5-3 decision in front of 48,147 at Turner Field.

The disheartening setback pushed the Marlins to the brink of being eliminated from Wild Card contention and caused some tension afterwards when A.J. Burnett vented his frustrations.

"We played scared. We managed scared. We coached scared. I'm sick of it, man," said Burnett, now 12-12 after dropping his sixth straight decision. "It's depressing around here. A 3-0 ballgame, I give up one run and leave guys on base, it's like they expect us to mess up. And when we do, they chew us out. There is no positive nothing around here for anybody."

Since improving to 11 games over .500 and taking a 1 1/2-game lead over Houston in the Wild Card standings on Sept. 13, Florida has dropped nine of 11.

The Marlins are now five back of the Astros with six games to go.

"Wild Card or not, playoffs or not, our season is not over. It ain't over. It ain't over till that closer comes in and finishes out that ninth inning," Burnett said. "That's when it's over. Game ain't over when it's 3-1. Game ain't over when it's 3-3. It's called the game of baseball. That's what happens. Teams fight back. We can fight back. Atlanta fought back."

The team's frustrations have built, especially after going 1-5 in their final road trip of the season.

"Everybody is on a stage," manager Jack McKeon said. "Everybody has to be held accountable. I do and they do. We all do. [Burnett] plays. We try to do the best we can out here. Everybody gets frustrated at times. I think sometimes you've got to look in the mirror.

"We certainly don't pitch. Me or the coaches don't pitch or hit."

The Marlins actually led in every game on the road trip, but won just once. Twice in the Atlanta series, Florida was unable to hold three-run leads.

"You've just got to close them out," McKeon said. "Good pitchers win those games. If you can [get a lead], you've got to stop them."

Burnett gave up five runs -- four earned -- in six-plus innings. A high pitch count caught up to the right-hander, who walked four and struck out eight.

Burnett threw 119 pitches, his highest total since tossing 120 on Aug. 9, against the Diamondbacks.

The game was tied at 3 until the Braves scored twice in the seventh inning. Burnett issued a leadoff walk to pinch-hitter Kelly Johnson. Rafael Furcal then dropped down a bunt single, and Johnson went to third on the play when catcher Matt Treanor's throw skipped past first base.

McKeon then went to reliever Randy Messenger, and Giles gave the Braves the lead with a sacrifice fly. Two batters later, Andruw Jones reached on a fielders' choice, plating an insurance run.

The Braves pushed across a run in the fourth inning on Jeff Francoeur's sacrifice fly. Chipper Jones, who walked, trotted home on the fly out to right field. And Atlanta tied it at 3 on Giles' two-run homer in the fifth inning.

"It's a 3-3 game, man," Burnett said. "I give up a home run, it's a funeral. You give up one run, so we expect him to give up more. I'm over it. I've got one more start here, and that's all that matters."

Eligible to file for free agency after the season, Burnett is scheduled to make his final start on Friday, also against the Braves, but in Miami.

"He's as good as anybody to go out there and get them out with his stuff," McKeon said of Burnett. "That's the thing with this guy is he can throw a no-hitter any day with his stuff. But you can't keep walking leadoff guys."

A leadoff triple by Juan Pierre followed by Jeff Conine's RBI single gave Florida a 1-0 lead two batters into the game. And in the third inning, the Marlins added two more runs on RBI doubles from Carlos Delgado and Mike Lowell.

"I haven't seen a positive pat on the back since April," Burnett said. "Guys are out here busting their [butts]. The whole team is out here busting their [butts]. We ain't trying to lose. We ain't out there trying to strike out or give up runs. Guys are busting their [butts]. Yet you still hear negativity. Just negativity. I ain't saying no names. Just too much negativity."

McKeon says Burnett's critical comments are a product of frustration.

"Everybody gets frustrated at times, they say things, then you come up tomorrow and say, 'I really didn't mean it or I was misquoted.' That happens all the time," McKeon said.