Braves 8 - 2 Marlins
Final
  for this game

Braves use long ball to complete sweep of Marlins

Jun 8, 2012 - 4:04 AM

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Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Martin Prado went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI, as the Braves completed a three-game sweep of the Marlins with an 8-2 victory on Thursday.

Michael Bourn had three hits, including a three-run homer, and Jason Heyward crushed a pair of solo shots for Atlanta, which has gone 6-1 following an eight-game losing streak.

Mike Minor (3-4) walked five and allowed four hits over five innings, but gave up just one run to earn his first win since April 19.

Jose Reyes and Giancarlo Stanton each homered for the Marlins, who went 0- for-13 with runners in scoring position and left 11 on base.

Miami had won five of six prior to getting swept by its NL East rival.

"We're in a little slump right now. That's what happens when you face good teams and good pitching," Miami starter Mark Buehrle said.

Stanton's reviewed home run down the right-field line leading off the eighth inning cut Miami's deficit to 4-2. Justin Ruggiano followed with a double, but Eric O'Flaherty retired the next three hitters to leave Ruggiano stranded on second.

Heyward took Edward Mujica deep over the center field wall in the ninth, and Bourn made it a rout with a three-run blast off Dan Jennings later in the frame.

Reyes, in his 56th game with the Marlins after signing a big free agent contract in the offseason, produced his first home run of the year leading off the fifth.

Buehrle had given up just one hit leading up to the sixth, but surrendered a two-out single to Bourn then watched Prado turn on a 2-2 offering and deposited it over the left-field wall for a 2-1 lead.

Buehrle (5-6) was pulled after the inning, and Steve Cishek served up a mammoth home run to Heyward in the seventh, the blast clearing the 418-foot sign in straightaway center field.

"It was more of a line drive," Heyward said of the homer. "It was huge at the time because it was still a close game."

Prado added an RBI single in the eighth to make it 4-1.

Game Notes

Bourn has already exceeded his career high in home runs with six...Stanton has 14 home runs this season, but Thursday's was his first to right field...Chad Durbin, Jonny Venters and Cristhian Martinez also threw a scoreless inning of relief for the Braves...Minor had his previous start skipped because of a rainout and was pitching on 11 days' rest...Buehrle was charged with two runs on three hits over six frames...Atlanta is 10-2 in its last 12 games in Miami.






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