Atlanta, GA – Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-run homer and the Miami Marlins took an 8-4 win over the Atlanta Braves in the opener of a two- game set.
Austin Kearns and Emilio Bonifacio both drove in two runs while Jose Reyes stole home for the Marlins, who have won five of their last seven. Mark Buehrle (3-4) gave up four runs on six hits with a walk and four strikeouts over six innings of work to get the win.
"We're finally playing like we should be," said Stanton. "The stolen bases helped tonight because they always throw the pitcher off. If he's worrying about the runners, he's not paying attention to the hitter as much."
Martin Prado went 3-for-4 with a run scored while Dan Uggla added two hits and an RBI for the Braves, who have dropped two of three. Mike Minor (2-3) was charged with six runs on six hits with three walks and three strikeouts over just 4 2/3 innings to take the loss.
Atlanta took the initial lead in the first inning when Freddie Freeman's groundout scored Tyler Pastornicky, who had led off with a single and moved to third on Prado's double.
Miami had just one baserunner through the first three innings, but got on board in the fourth.
Omar Infante led off with a single and Hanley Ramirez was hit by a pitch. Kearns followed with a double to plate both runners and later came home on a Bonifacio single for a 3-1 lead.
The Marlins added to their lead in the fifth. With runners on first and third, Miami executed a double steal with Reyes taking home plate. Gaby Sanchez and Bonifacio added RBI singles later in the frame for a 6-1 lead.
"They got a couple of hits and I got out of my rhythm," said Minor. "Just wasn't making any strong pitches and they hit them. It kind of just kept on going, they kept getting more hits and more runs."
The Braves struck back in the sixth inning. With two on and no outs, Uggla singled to center to score one. A wild pitch then put both runners in scoring position and Brian McCann and Matt Diaz followed with RBI groundouts to make it a 6-4 game.
Miami, though, got two of those runs back in the seventh on Stanton's two-run homer, his eighth of the year, for an 8-4 lead.
Steve Cishek and Randy Choate combined to pitch a scoreless seventh inning, Edward Mujica tossed the eighth, while Heath Bell worked a 1-2-3 ninth to close out the game.
Game Notes
It was Reyes' first steal of home in his career...Atlanta won 12 of the 18 games against Miami last season...Both teams left six on base, but Miami batted 5-for-14 with runners in scoring position while Atlanta went 1- for-9...Bonifacio has 20 steals on the season to lead the majors.
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