The Braves watched a five-run lead disappear, but still managed to complete their three-game sweep of the Marlins in extra innings. Mallex Smith’s two-out, RBI single to center off Edwin Jackson proved the difference, as Atlanta prevailed 6-5 in 10 innings at Marlins Park.
Ichiro Suzuki’s two-out, RBI single in the ninth inning off Jason Grilli pulled the Marlins even, but with two outs in the 10th, the Braves countered and went ahead on Smith’s single to center. Miami has now dropped four straight and fell to 0-5 at home.
After falling behind by five runs in the sixth inning, the Marlins chipped back with three in the sixth, one in the seventh and eventually forced extra innings thanks to Suzuki’s single in the ninth.
Braves right-hander Jhoulys Chacin, staked to a four-run lead in the first inning, retired the first 10 he faced before Martin Prado’s single with one out in the fourth inning. The right-hander even helped his cause at the plate with an RBI single in the sixth inning, extending the lead to 5-0.
The Braves stacked their lineup with seven left-handed hitters against right-hander Jarred Cosart. They struck for four runs in the first inning off Cosart. Nick Markakis started things off with a double. Freddie Freeman had an RBI single, but the big blow was Jace Peterson’s three-run double with two outs.
Despite allowing his first three runs of the season, Chacin had a solid outing. He allowed four hits and recorded six strikeouts in a 5 1/3-innings outing and had a one-hit shutout working through five innings, before the Marlins rallied for three in the bottom of the sixth. The right-hander contributed to his cause at the plate with an RBI single in the top of the sixth that stretched the Braves’ lead to 5-0.
Things got out of control quickly for Cosart in the first inning, as the Miami right-hander faced nine batters, threw 34 pitches and allowed four runs. Cosart labored with command, walking three. In the second inning, Cosart walked two more, but he settled in and ended up giving Miami several quality innings. Cosart had a stretch where he retired 12 straight and got into the sixth inning before he exited following an RBI single by Chacin. The final line wasn’t pretty for Cosart, who allowed five runs (four earned) with six walks and four strikeouts.
The Braves gave Chacin a 4-0 lead before he threw his first pitch. Markakis continued his hot hitting during this series when he lined a leadoff double down the left-field line to spark the offense. Back-to-back walks with two outs after Freeman drove in Markakis with a single set the stage for a bases-loaded three-run double by Peterson.
After an off-day Monday, the Braves had planned to send right-hander Matt Wisler to the mound in the first of a three-game homestand against the Dodgers, but Wisler (0-1, 4.97 ERA in two starts this season) was needed out of the bullpen in the 10th inning Sunday and it’s now possible that his next start will be pushed back a day or two. Former Braves left-hander Alex Wood (1-1, 4.50) is the scheduled starter for the Dodgers.
