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Marlins blank Braves

Sep 7, 2014 - 11:22 PM Miami, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Brad Hand tossed six shutout innings and the Miami Marlins blanked the Atlanta Braves, 4-0, in the rubber match of a three- game set.

Hand (3-6) struck out three and scattered five hits for the Marlins, who had dropped three of their last four games coming in. Jarrod Saltalamacchia drove in two and Christian Yelich went 2-for-4 with a run scored in the triumph.

"I was just trying to throw early strikes, get early contact," Hand said. "I was trying to get ahead in the count and pitch to contact."

Julio Teheran (13-11) allowed four runs on eight hits over 5 1/3 innings for Atlanta, which has lost four of its last six games.

"I thought the game was right there, we had opportunities to get back in it," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

The Braves are a half-game behind the Pittsburgh Pirates for the NL's second wild card spot.

The Marlins opened the scoring with a run in the fifth and added three more in the sixth. Garrett Jones hit a two-out double in the fifth and Saltalamacchia followed with a base hit to left, plating Jones.

In the sixth, Yelich began with a single and stole second during Donovan Solano's at-bat. Solano then deposited a base hit into left-center to plate Yelich. After Giancarlo Stanton popped out, Casey McGehee singled to put runners on the corners with one out.

Marcell Ozuna ripped a double to right-center to push across Solano. Pinch- hitter Jeff Baker was intentionally walked to load the bases and Saltalamacchia lifted a sacrifice fly to center to bring home McGehee for a 4-0 Marlins advantage.

Hand retired his first 11 batters before Freddie Freeman singled with two outs in the fourth.

Game Notes

The Marlins were 3-for-5 with runners in scoring position, while Atlanta finished 0-for-7 and left six men on base ... Teheran retired 13 straight Miami hitters at one point.