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Heyward helps Braves thump Marlins

Jul 31, 2012 - 3:36 AM Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - For the first time in 2012, having a case of the Mondays was a positive for the Braves.

It took 13 tries, but the Braves won on Monday for the first time this season, cruising to a 8-2 win over the Miami Marlins in the opener of a four-game set.

"It was a good win," Braves starting pitcher Tommy Hanson (12-5) said. "Finally got us a win on Monday."

It was not pretty, but Tommy Hanson established a new career high with 12 wins.

Hanson played with fire for the second straight outing without getting burned, holding the Marlins to one run despite surrendering six hits and three walks in five innings. Hanson beat the Marlins in his last start on Wednesday even though he walked a career-high seven.

Jason Heyward picked up a pair of hits, including a home run, as the Braves won their sixth straight game.

Mark Buehrle (9-10) lost his second straight decision on the heels of four straight wins. The left-hander was tagged for six runs on eight hits and four walks in only 4 1/3 innings.

"Three consecutive for me, go out in five innings," Buehrle said. "That's really not acceptable. Like I said, I'm just falling behind too much and having to make pitches in tough spots behind in the count."

Jose Reyes picked up an extra-base hit for the sixth straight game and extended his hitting streak to 17 games with a pair of doubles.

Miami had the bases full in the second, but Buehrle fanned to end the threat.

The Braves led wire-to-wire and jumped out in front in the third inning when Heyward hammered a hanging curveball deep into the right-field stands to give Atlanta a 1-0 lead.

Atlanta tacked on another run in the fourth when Paul Janish worked a walk, advanced to second on a bunt and scored when Michael Bourn grounded a base hit up the middle.

Reyes drove in Emilio Bonifacio with a bloop double to left field to put Miami on the board in the fifth, but when Carlos Lee singled to left, Reyes was thrown out at the plate by Martin Prado to end the inning.

The Braves never looked back from there, rallying for four runs in the bottom half of the frame and blowing the game open.

Heyward led off the fifth with a single and reached third when Freddie Freeman slammed a double off the right-field fence. Brian McCann walked before Dan Uggla stroked a sinking line drive to left, which was misplayed by left fielder Bryan Petersen, for a two-run double, ending Buehrle's night.

Carlos Zambrano, making his first relief appearance since 2010, entered, but could not stop the bleeding. Two batters later, pinch-hitter Juan Francisco lined a two-out, two-strike single to left to score two more and give the Braves a 6-1 lead.

Freeman singled home Heyward in the sixth and Janish scored on a force out in the seventh to round out the Braves' scoring.

The Marlins picked up an unearned run in the ninth when Austin Kearns scored on pitcher Luis Avilan's error with two outs, but the left-hander retired Reyes to end the game.

Game Notes

Buehrle walked four hitters in consecutive starts for the first time since June 4 and June 10, 2006...Prior to the game, the Marlins announced that Wade LeBlanc will start in place of Zambrano on Wednesday...The Braves have won nine of their last 11 at home...Atlanta moves to a season-high 14 games over .500...The Marlins had their two-game win streak snapped and have now lost nine of 12...The Braves lead the season series between the two teams, 7-2.