Atlanta, GA – Chris Johnson went 3-for-4 with a two-run double and two runs scored as the Atlanta Braves took an 11-3 win over the Miami Marlins to open a three-game set.
Brian McCann had three hits and two RBI while Andrelton Simmons also drove in a pair of run for the Braves, who have won six of their last seven games. Justin Upton had three hits, three runs scored and an RBI in the win.
"We're a team that's capable of scoring a lot of runs," said Simmons. "It doesn't happen every day, but every once in a while the offense opens up and puts a bunch of runs on the board. We can't afford to let any games slip right now."
Kris Medlen (6-7) was charged with three runs on nine hits with a pair of walks and one strikeouts over six innings of work to win his third straight start.
Logan Morrison hit a two-run home run and Greg Dobbs added an RBI single for the Marlins, who came into the game having won six of their previous seven games.
Tom Koehler gave up three runs -- two earned -- on five hits over five innings, while Dan Jennings (0-1), who was on the hook for three runs, was handed the first loss of his career after failing to record an out in the sixth.
"Today was a battle," said Koehler. "There were three innings in a row where they led off with an extra-base hit. Any time that happens, you're putting yourself behind the eight-ball. When that happens, you wind up wearing yourself out trying to pitch past them."
With the game tied in the sixth inning, Atlanta went ahead in the frame with four two-out runs.
Jennings started on the mound and gave up three straight singles to load the bases before handing the ball to Ryan Webb, who then struck out Dan Uggla and Reed Johnson.
Chris Johnson, though, roped a pitch down the first base line for a double and two runs came home. Jordan Schafer then with a single off the left leg of Webb to plate another run, and Simmons followed with a chopper in front of the plate and he beat Webb's throw to first to score another and give Atlanta a 7-3 lead.
McCann had an RBI double in the seventh, while Simmons, Upton and McCann each had a run-scoring hit in the eighth to make it an 11-3 game.
The Marlins jumped on top in the first inning as Giancarlo Stanton worked a two-out walk to keep the frame alive and Morrison followed with his second homer of the year for a 2-0 lead.
Atlanta got one back in the second when Freddie Freeman led off with a double and later scored on a groundout from Uggla to make it a 2-1 game.
In the third, the Braves tied the game as Chris Johnson led off with a double and came around to score on Medlen's bunt. On the play, Placido Polanco's throw to first went wild as Medlen and Morrison collided at first base, allowing Johnson to score.
The Braves took the lead in the fourth. Upton tripled to lead off and scored when Freddie Freeman hit a fly ball to left-center that made Juan Pierre and Marcell Ozuna hesitate, and the ball fell out of Pierre's glove for a 3-2 lead.
Miami tied the game in the sixth as Derek Dietrich led off the inning with a two-bagger to left and later scored on a Dobbs pinch-hit single to right field.
Game Notes
Atlanta center fielder B.J. Upton left the game in the fourth inning with left forearm muscle spasms ... The Braves batted 8-for-22 with runners in scoring position ... Atlanta has outscored Miami 113-36 over the past 21 games, winning 18 of those contests ... Miami went 1-for-8 with RISP and left nine on base.
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