The Florida Marlins spoiled John Smoltz's return to starting back in 2005, and the Marlins put a damper in the Braves icon's return to closing Monday night.

But this time Yunel Escobar made sure Smoltz wouldn't have to ruminate over a loss to the Fish.

Jason Getz/AJC (ENLARGE)

Braves' Chipper Jones gets rundown in between third base and home plate by Florida Marlin shortstop Hanley Ramirez.

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Escobar hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning to give the Braves a 7-5 series-opening win at Turner Field, after the Marlins scored two in the ninth to give Smoltz a blown save in his first relief appearance in 44 months.

Smoltz, who gave up two runs and three hits in one inning in his first game back after after nearly five weeks on the disabled list with shoulder problems. "It wasn't in my script. At the same time, we won the game," he said.

For Escobar, it was the first walk-off homer of his professional career. He had given the Braves a 4-3 lead with a two-out single that caromed off the pitcher in the eighth inning, but his 10th-inning homer just over the fence in right-center was the one he won't forget.

"It feels really good," the Cuban shortstop said through a translator. "That's the first time that's happened to me, and with Smoltz [pitching] it feels awesome. He’s a huge pitcher, and I enjoy playing with him."

In the 2005 season opener at Florida, Smoltz gave up seven runs in 1-2/3 innings of his first start since 2001, after serving 3-1/2 seasons as an elite closer. But in 29 career relief appearances against Florida before Monday, he converted 20 of 20 save opportunities and never allowed a run.

"He made some good pitches," said manager Bobby Cox, who was encouraged by Smoltz's performance. "He was throwing hard. The ball was moving three feet.

"He's quite an athlete, quite a guy, and he pitches with pain."

Smoltz, 41, threw from his new three-quarters delivery, an adjustment that he hopes will allow him to pitch the rest of the season with tolerable levels of discomfort, something he could no longer do with his customary overhead delivery.

"He's coming back from the DL and he's trying to figure out his stuff," said Florida outfielder Jeremy Hermida, an Atlanta native whose two-run, two-out single off Smoltz put the Marlins ahead 5-4.

The Braves forced extra innings when Jeff Francoeur scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth, and Escobar delivered the game-ending blast after Kelly Johnson's leadoff walk in the 10th. Jeff Francoeur and Mark Teixeira also homered for the Braves.

Escobar had been a team-worst 3-for-33 in the late innings of close games before his eighth-inning single drove in Gregor Blanco with the go-ahead run. Blanco had been 2-for-18 in those situations, second-worst on the team.

Smoltz, who hinted before the game at retirement if he can't pitch effectively, made his highly anticipated entrance to a standing ovation from a crowd of 20,896. The fans had to clap and cheer above a noisy Pict-O-Word promotion that inexplicably continued unabated even as Smoltz walked slowly from the right-field bullpen before the ninth inning.

Smoltz induced a first-pitch pop foul by Cody Ross before Matt Treanor doubled to the right-center gap off center fielder Blanco’s glove as he attempted a diving catch.

Pinch-hitter Wes Helms followed with a single to put runners at first and third. Hanley Ramirez flied out to right before Hermida hit a two-run single that rolled under left fielder Omar Infante’s glove for a 5-4 Marlins lead (both runs were earned after the official scorer ruled both would’ve scored anyway).

A popup ended the inning, and Smoltz received more respectful applause as he left the field.

"It was an emotionally draining feeling I hadn't felt in a while," said Smoltz, whose fastball was clocked at a robust 95 miles per hour on the stadium radar gun. "I needed a little more touch. I threw awfully hard, but needed more touch."

"I'm certainly glad we came back to win it," Smoltz said. "We've been dealing with our share of tough losses, and this would have been another."

Coming off a dismal 1-5 road trip, the Braves won the opener of a seven-game homestand to improve their home record to 23-7. They are 7-21 away from Turner Field.