Atlanta, GA (SportsNetwork.com) – Adeiny Hechavarria celebrated his 26th
birthday by going 3-for-3 with a home run, three runs batted in and two runs
scored to lead the Miami Marlins over the Atlanta Braves, 6-2, in the rubber
match of three-game set at Turner Field on Wednesday.
Dee Gordon added two hits and a pair of RBI and Michael Morse also homered for
the Marlins, who won for just the third time in nine games this season.
Dan Haren (1-0) started for Miami and got his first win, allowing two runs on
three hits over seven innings. The right-hander struck out five and walked
two, as the Marlins won their first series of the young campaign.
Miami was swept in three games by the Braves to begin the year then dropped
two of three to the Rays before embarking on their current 10-day road trip.
Cameron Maybin and Kelly Johnson homered to account for the only Atlanta runs.
Gordon started the scoring in the third inning, coming through with a two-run
double off Atlanta starter Eric Stults.
Hechavarria added his two-run homer off Stults in the fifth inning, while
Morse hit his solo shot in the sixth off reliever Cody Martin.
The Braves got a run back in the sixth when Maybin connected on his second
home run of the season. Johnson added his first homer an inning later.
Hechavarria added a RBI sac fly in the ninth to cap the scoring.
Stults (0-1) was hit with the loss, surrendering four runs on five hits over
five innings.
“Obviously the results weren’t there,” said Stults. “I felt like just a couple
pitches up in the zone, especially to (Hechavarria) in the last inning I had.
Overall, I feel good. It’s a long season.”
Despite the loss, the outing was a win of sorts for Stults, who held Miami
slugger Giancarlo Stanton hitless in two at-bats. Stanton blasted a 484-foot
homer off Stults last April.
Stanton finished the contest 0-for-4 after going 3-for-3 with a double, four
RBI, two runs scored, two walks and a stolen base in Tuesday’s 8-2 win.
Game Notes
Major League Baseball is celebrating the 12th annual Jackie Robinson Day
Wednesday. Both teams wore uniform No. 42 on their jerseys … The Marlins
travel to New York for a four-game series at Citi Field vs. the Mets, starting
Thursday … Gordon has reached safely in eight of nine games this season …
The Braves have Thursday off before traveling to Toronto for a three-game
weekend set .. For the second straight game, Stanton did not wear the
protective face cage on his batting helmet when facing a left-hander pitcher.
When Martin, a righty, entered the game, he used the helmet with the
protective cage.