*Photo from the Houston Chronicle*
Atlanta leads series 1-0
It was looking like another improbable playoff win for the Miami Marlins entering the 7th inning. The Atlanta Braves offense had other plans. Travis D'Arnaud homered, drove in 4 runs, and the Braves beat the Marlins 9-5 thanks to a 6 run 7th inning. The game had some drama, as Ronald Acuna was hit by a Marlins pitcher yet again, which D'Arnaud says woke the Braves up.
Acuna got the scoring started in the first inning with a long solo homer to center field, making it a 1-0 lead. In the second inning, Miguel Rojas hit a solo homer to left field, tying the game at one. In the 3rd, Garrett Cooper hit a two run double, and Brian Anderson hit an RBI single to make it 4-1 Marlins. In the bottom of the third, Marcell Ozuna and D'Arnaud each hit RBI doubles to make it 4-3 Marlins. It stayed that way until the 7th, when Ozuna hit the game tying single, and D'Arnaud blasted a 3 run homer to make it 7-4 Braves. Later in the inning, Dansby Swanson broke it open with a two run homer, making it 9-4. Miami got one more run, making it a 9-5 score.
Sandy Alcantara got the loss for the Marlins, pitching into the 7th inning, but not getting an out. He got 6 innings of outs, allowing 5 runs on 8 hits and one walk, striking out 8 hitters. Alcantara hit Acuna with a fastball, the 5th time a Marlins pitcher has hit Acuna. It seemed a fight was about to erupt, but Alcantara and Acuna were pulled away before it escalated. Alcantara said he didn't intend to hit Acuna, but did say that "If he's ready to fight, I'm ready to fight, too."
Marlins manager Don Mattingly, however, was more focused on the fact that the Marlins lost. Mattingly said that "The tide kind of turned, we get that three-run lead, and then we give two runs right back. From there, really, we got stopped all day."
Will Smith got the win for the Braves, working a scoreless 7th inning, not allowing any baserunners. Max Fried started for the Braves, lasting just 4 innings. Fried allowed 4 runs on 6 hits, striking out 6 hitters. Mark Melancon closed out the Marlins in the 9th. Darren O'Day, Tyler Matzek, and Chris Martin also pitched for the Braves.
The series continues on Wednesday, where Pablo Lopez of the Marlins faces Atlanta's Ian Anderson.
Comments
Post a Comment