Braves rally with 4 runs in 6th, beat Marlins 8-5


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ATLANTA (AP) — Interim Braves manager Brian Snitker had to sweat out the ninth inning more than he wanted to.

Even so, he was pleased to see Mauricio Cabrera, the seventh Atlanta pitcher, earn his first career save.

"It was too eventful for me there at the end," Snitker said, "but we won the game."

Pinch-hitter Brandon Snyder had two RBIs in a four-run sixth inning and the Braves rallied for an 8-5 victory over the Miami Marlins on Thursday night.

Miami, which began the day a half-game ahead of two teams in the NL wild-card race, has allowed 25 runs and scored just 13 runs off 37 hits in losing its last three games. The Marlins dropped to 2-7 against Atlanta this year.

The Braves improved to just 12-32 at Turner Field. They have the NL's worst overall record, the majors' worst home record and the least productive offense in the big leagues, but they took a 6-3 lead in the sixth.

Jeff Francoeur's double chased Marlins starter Wei-Yin Chen, and Mike Dunn gave up Erick Aybar's RBI infield single, Snyder's two-run go-ahead triple and Chase d'Arnaud's RBI single.

Chen (4-3) allowed eight hits, four runs, two walks and struck out two in 5 1/3 innings. The left-hander has a 7.27 ERA over his last five starts.

Tyler Flowers' RBI double in the seventh pushed the lead to 7-3. Ichiro Suzuki's pinch-hit sacrifice fly in the eighth made it 7-4, and d'Arnaud's RBI double in the eighth put Atlanta up 8-4.

After Arodys Vizcaino issued a pair of two-out walks in the ninth, Flowers was ejected by home plate umpire Larry Vanover for arguing balls and strikes and was replaced by A.J. Pierzynski.

Adeiny Hechavarria's RBI single chased Vizcaino — the Atlanta closer pitching in a non-save situation — and Cabrera retired pinch-hitter Cole Gillespie on a flyout for his first career save.

"What I saw it wasn't a very good zone all night," Flowers said. "Finally the situation gets tight there at the end and I thought it was a blatant strike. So it comes a point where you have to do something. It's better me than a pitcher getting ejected."

Dario Alvarez (2-1) earned the win after walking one, striking out one and throwing a wild pitch in two-thirds of the sixth.

The Marlins went ahead 3-0 in the second on Justin Bour's 15th homer, a three-run shot off Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz.

"He's been swinging the bat good," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "That's the issue for us. We've been able to put up a lot of hits. We just haven't been able to put up a lot of runs. He's a guy that can do that."

Following a 1-hour, 8-minute rain delay in the third, the Braves cut the lead to 3-2 on Freddie Freeman's RBI triple and Nick Markakis' RBI single.

Tyrell Jenkins, the second Atlanta pitcher, walked the bases loaded but struck out J.T. Realmuto to keep the Marlins scoreless in the fifth.

Foltynewicz, in his first start since May 30 after going on the disabled list with right elbow soreness, gave up two hits, two walks, three runs — two earned — and struck out two in three innings.

RODNEY ON THE WAY

Mattingly will wait until Friday to announce how he will use newly acquired closer Fernando Rodney.

Making a push to stay near the top of the NL wild-card race, the Marlins traded a minor league pitcher to get Rodney from San Diego.

Current Marlins closer A.J. Ramos has converted straight 33 saves opportunities since last season, but Mattingly wouldn't say for sure who will have the role.

Rodney, whose 253 career saves are fifth-most among active pitchers, is expected to join the team Friday.

PAIRING TOP PROSPECTS

Braves 2B Ozzie Albies has been demoted to Double-A Mississippi from Triple-A Gwinnett, where he will play alongside SS Dansby Swanson.

General manager John Coppolella gave no timetable for their arrival in Atlanta, but this year hasn't been ruled out. The team also might wait until it moves into a new suburban ballpark next year.

Swanson is Atlanta's top prospect and was baseball's No. 1 overall draft pick last year. Albies ranks among the 25 top overall prospects. Both began their professional career as shortstops. Albies made the switch to second base this year at Gwinnett.

Albies batted .248 in 56 games at Triple-A after hitting .369 in 22 games at Double-A to open the season.

TRADE AND SIGN

Atlanta dealt RHP Bud Norris, its No. 2 starter, to the Los Angeles Dodgers for two prospects. The Braves also signed veteran utility man Omar Infante to a minor league contract. Infante, 34, will be assigned to Class A Danville next week.

UP NEXT

Marlins: LHP Justin Nicolino (2-4, 5.17) will be called up from Triple-A New Orleans to start Friday night. He was demoted after allowing five runs over 4 2/3 innings June 15 against San Diego.

Braves: RHP Julio Teheran (3-7) has a 2.46 ERA, seventh-best in the NL. He is 5-3 with a 2.87 ERA in 13 career starts against the Marlins.

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