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Braves blank Marlins for sixth straight win

Apr 11, 2013 - 6:40 AM Miami, FL (Sports Network) - The Atlanta Braves scored six runs in the fifth inning and shut out the Miami Marlins, 8-0, in a National League East contest on Wednesday.

Mike Minor (2-0) pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just five hits and one walk while recording four strikeouts for the Braves, who have won six straight.

Evan Gattis hit a two-run homer and had three RBI, while Juan Francisco added a two-run shot of his own while going 3-for-4. Andrelton Simmons also drove in two runs and Jordan Schafer went 4-for-5 in the victory.

"It felt good to get out there on the field and be able to play," said Schafer.

Placido Polanco went 2-for-4 with a double, but the Marlins recorded just seven hits and left eight runners on base. Starter Alex Sanabia (1-1) surrendered six runs on eight hits and three walks over five innings.

"Really what we've been talking about the last few days, we're just not able to execute," said Miami manager Mike Redmond.

Schafer led off the Braves' big fifth inning with a bunt single and stole second before scoring on Simmons' single to right. Jason Heyward then walked to set up Gattis' three-run shot that gave the Braves a 4-0 lead.

Dan Uggla was up next and walked before Juan Francisco homered to make it a 6-0 game.

Simmons drove in another run in the sixth. After Schafer knocked a leadoff double and Minor had a sacrifice bunt to bring him to third, Simmons hit a sacrifice fly to center to plate Schafer.

Chris Johnson drove in the final run of the game in the ninth, when he singled with two outs and brought Uggla home.

Anthony Varvaro pitched the final two innings for the Braves and allowed two hits to end the game.

Game Notes

The Braves' 8-1 record leads the majors and is their best start since 1994, when they began the season 13-1 ... The Marlins' 1-7 record is their worst start since 1998, when the team went 1-11 ... Atlanta was 3-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left nine runners on base ... Heyward went 0- for-4 to have his batting average drop to .071 for the season ... Francisco's home run went 459 feet, the fifth-longest by a Braves player since 2007.