The Braves continue to play for more than pride. The way they’ve heated up, they’re spoiling the postseason plans for a couple of National League East rivals. Matt Kemp belted two home runs and Josh Collmenter gave up two runs in seven innings on Thursday night in Atlanta’s 6-3 win over Miami at Marlins Park.
After a three-game sweep of the Mets, who are in the thick of a three-team Wild Card race, the Braves dealt a serious blow to the Marlins’ last-gasp bid to sneak into the mix. Miami (76-77) entered the night four behind the Mets, Giants and Cardinals.
The Braves, winners of six straight, struck for four runs with two outs in the third inning off Jose Urena, breaking open a five-run lead. Freeman’s two-run single extended his hitting streak to 26 games and his streak of reaching successfully to 42 games. Kemp’s two-run homer gave Atlanta five runs before Miami had as much as a hit. Kemp added a solo shot in the sixth off Mike Dunn.
Collmenter limited the Marlins to a run in the third inning on Marcell Ozuna’s RBI single and J.T. Realmuto’s solo homer in the seventh.
The Braves improved to 10-6 against the Marlins in the season series.
The Braves used cash to acquire Collmenter from the Cubs last week simply because they were running out of internal options to fill their injury-depleted rotation. The veteran, who spent most of this season in Arizona’s bullpen or at Triple-A with Chicago, produced a solid start against the Nationals on Saturday and then delivered this seven-inning gem that included 106 pitches — his highest total at any level since April 17, 2015.
