Final/12
Stanton, Marlins outlast Braves to win fourth straight
Sep 13, 2011 - 4:20 AMVideo
Florida escaped several extra-inning threats by Atlanta to come away with its fourth straight win.
John Buck walked on five pitches to lead off the 12th and pinch runner Brett Hayes went to second base on Bryan Petersen's sacrifice bunt. Anthony Varvaro (0-2) intentionally walked Donnie Murphy and was replaced on the mound by Cristhian Martinez, who surrendered Stanton's go-ahead single to left.
Stanton missed the previous two games with a strained right hamstring and got ready to hit a few times before the Marlins finally called on him. He said nothing changes in his approach when he's pinch hitting.
"I just take it as I'm getting ready for a game," he said. "If we're on the road, I'm going to bat in the first inning anyway. So it's kind of like my first inning, but usually in a more important situation."
Leo Nunez pitched around a leadoff walk to Jason Howard in the bottom of the 12th, picking up his 35th save. He sealed the win for Clay Hensley (4-6), who pitched out of trouble in the previous two innings.
The Braves, who had tied the game on Alex Gonzalez's RBI single in the eighth inning, lost their fourth straight game but remained 4 1/2 games up for the wild card lead after St. Louis also lost Monday.
"We're fine. We played good today, we just didn't come out with the win," said Braves reliever Jonny Venters, who pitched the eighth. "We've gotta just keep going and every day is a new day. We've gotta come to the field tomorrow to try to get a win."
With two outs in the eighth, Jason Heyward singled, went to second on Murphy's errant throw from short and scored on Gonzalez's line drive into left field to make it 4-4.
But the Braves wasted Michael Bourn's leadoff double in the ninth, loading the bases with one down before Brian McCann struck out looking and Martin Prado grounded into a force play.
Hayward drew a leadoff walk in the 10th and advanced all the way to third, but was stranded there when Murphy gunned Bourne down on a bang-bang play at first base to end the inning.
Atlanta threatened again in the 11th -- and it took a backhand stab by Murphy to save the Marlins.
With two outs and runners on first and second, Murphy nabbed Prado's hot shot and spun around to get the force at second base. Jose Costanza, pinch running for Chipper Jones, probably would have scored from second base if the ball reached the outfield.
The Marlins, coming off a three-game sweep of the Pirates, improved to 4-0 on an 11-game road trip. They are 4-9 against the Braves this season.
Florida took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Omar Infante tripled and scored on Greg Dobbs' single.
In the second, Prado raced to the warning track in left field for an over-the- shoulder catch on Florida starter Chris Volstad's long drive to end the inning.
But the Marlins pushed their lead to 2-0 in the third after Emilio Bonifacio tripled and came home on Infante's sacrifice fly.
The Braves tied the game in two at-bats. Dan Uggla and McCann led off the fourth with back-to-back singles and Uggla scored on Gonzalez's two-out double. In the fifth, Bourn and Jones hit consecutive singles to start the inning and Bourn scored on Freddie Freeman's sac fly.
Florida came back with two runs in the sixth inning to knock starter Brandon Beachy out of the game. Petersen walked and scored after Murphy and Matt Dominguez hit consecutive singles, chasing Beachy for Arodys Vizcaino.
John Baker hit for Volstad, and Murphy scored on Vizcaino's wild pitch for a 4-2 lead.
Another triple, this one by Atlanta, produced a run in the sixth when Prado reached third against Burke Badenhop and scored on Gonzalez's single.
Beachy gave up four runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings for the Braves, striking out 10 to raise his Atlanta rookie record to 152. Volstad allowed two runs on seven hits in five frames and remained winless in his last eight starts.
Game Notes
Atlanta fell to 14-11 in extra inning games this season, while Florida improved to 8-12...The Braves were swept by the Cardinals over the weekend to end a 2-6 road trip...Volstad is 0-4 since July 10.
- FLORIDA: 5
ATLANTA: 4
Final/12
Sep 12 11:31 PM - Pinch-Hitter Mike Stanton single to left scored Brett Hayes with two out. On the play, Donnie Murphy advances to third. Runners on first and third and Emilio Bonifacio due up.
Marlins 5, Braves 4 Top 12, 2 OutsSep 12 11:18 PM - Alex Gonzalez single to left scored Jason Heyward with two out. Runner on first and Jonny Venters due up.
Marlins 4, Braves 4 Bot 8, 2 OutsSep 12 10:01 PM - Alex Gonzalez singled to center. Runner on first with one out and Arodys Vizcaino due up.
Marlins 4, Braves 3 Bot 6, 1 OutSep 12 9:13 PM - Donnie Murphy scored on a wild pitch by Arodys Vizcaino with one out. Matt Dominguez advances to second on a wild pitch. Runner on second and John Baker at the plate.
Marlins 4, Braves 2 Top 6, 1 OutSep 12 9:05 PM - Matt Dominguez single to center scored Bryan Petersen with one out. On the play, Donnie Murphy advances to third. Runners on first and third and Chris Volstad due up.
Marlins 3, Braves 2 Top 6, 1 OutSep 12 9:00 PM - Freddie Freeman sacrifice fly to center scored Michael Bourn with one out. Runner on first and Dan Uggla due up.
Marlins 2, Braves 2 Bot 5, 1 OutSep 12 8:47 PM - Alex Gonzalez double to left scored Dan Uggla with two out. On the play, Brian McCann advances to third. Runners on second and third and Brandon Beachy due up.
Marlins 2, Braves 1 Bot 4, 2 OutsSep 12 8:31 PM - Greg Dobbs struck out swinging. None on with two outs and Gaby Sanchez due up.
Marlins 2, Braves 0 Top 3, 2 OutsSep 12 7:59 PM - Gaby Sanchez struck out swinging. Runner on first with two outs and John Buck due up.
Marlins 1, Braves 0 Top 1, 2 OutsSep 12 7:18 PM - FLORIDA: 0
ATLANTA: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Sep 12 7:12 PM
Related News
- 2023 Braves Season in Review: Raisel Iglesias Dec 26
- This Day in Braves History: Phil Niekro passes away Dec 26
- Christmas Day open thread Dec 25
- This Day in MLB History: December 25 Dec 25
- Christmas Eve open thread Dec 24
- This Day in Braves History: Milwaukee signs Rico Carty Dec 24
- This Day in Braves History: Milwaukee signs Rico Carey Dec 24
- Braves News: Holiday pause, season reviews, more Dec 24
- 2023 Minor league season in review: Luis De Avila Dec 23
- 2023 Braves Season in Review: Ozzie Albies Dec 23
- This Day in Braves History: J.D. Drew signs with Dodgers Dec 23
- Braves News: Offseason evaluation, season reviews, and more Dec 23