Miami, FL (SportsNetwork.com) – A.J. Pierzynski hit a two-run homer in the
seventh inning and the Atlanta Braves completed a season-opening sweep of the
Miami Marlins with a 2-0 win on Wednesday night.
Pierzynski made his Atlanta debut, as did Shelby Miller, who was acquired in
the offseason trade that sent outfielder Jason Heyward to St. Louis.
Miller pitched the first five innings for the Braves, limiting the Marlins to
four hits. He struck out four and walked two.
Brandon Cunniff (1-0) tossed 1 2/3 innings in relief to pick up his first
major league win. Cunniff, a 26-year-old right-hander, made his big league
debut on Tuesday.
Atlanta is off to its first 3-0 start since 2007.
Miami’s Tom Koehler (0-1) tossed six scoreless innings before giving up the
blast to Pierzynski.
Freddie Freeman led off the seventh with a single and Pierzynski followed with
a drive to right-center field, ending Koehler’s outing.
Jim Johnson pitched around a two-out single by Miami’s Michael Morse in the
eighth before Jason Grilli tossed a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his second save.
Miller ran into trouble in the third, as a pair of infield hits and a walk to
Giancarlo Stanton loaded the bases with two outs. However, he escaped the jam
by getting Morse to ground into a fielder’s choice.
Stanton made a spectacular diving catch in right field to rob Freeman in the
fourth. He then got up and threw to first to complete a double play.
Game Notes
Koehler allowed five hits, walked three and struck out four … The Marlins
scored only three runs in the series.
