Marlins 4 - 5 Braves
Final/11
  for this game

Beachy targets another win, as Braves resume set with Marlins

Aug 31, 2013 - 2:04 PM (Sports Network) - Mike Minor eyes a fifth straight victory on Saturday night as the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves continue a three-game series with the Miami Marlins.

Minor has not lost since July 21, winning each of his last four decisions to move his season record to 13-5 with a 2.99 earned run average through 26 starts.

The young righty was blasted for four runs over just 1 2/3 innings of a no- decision versus Washington on Aug. 17. The Braves opted to give Minor some extra rest and he responded by holding St. Louis to a run over seven innings of a 5-2 victory on Sunday.

"I think any time you can give a pitcher (extra rest), especially at this point in the year, it's going to be beneficial," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said on his team's official website. "I told him when he walked off, you didn't forget how to pitch. He competes every time out."

Minor, 25, will face the Marlins for the fifth time this season, having posted a 2-1 mark and 3.24 ERA in the four previous encounters.

Jacob Turner tries to find his earlier-season form tonight for the Marlins. He was 3-1 with a 2.33 ERA through his first eight outings of the campaign, but has gone 0-4 with a 4.09 ERA over the last eight.

Turner's last win came versus Atlanta on July 10, but a rematch with the club did not go in the right-hander's favor on Aug. 9. He yielded five runs -- four earned -- over five innings of a loss while giving up three homers. Turner was taken deep twice in the first inning by Chris Johnson, who hit a three-run shot, and Justin Upton, while Brian McCann added Atlanta's second solo homer of the contest in the third.

The 22-year-old Turner is coming off a 4-3 loss to Colorado on Sunday, charged with all four runs over 5 2/3 innings. One of those was unearned.

The Braves took a 2-1 victory in Friday's opener, winning a pitcher's duel between Julio Teheran and the Marlins' Jose Fernandez.

Teheran allowed one run over 6 1/3 innings, scattering four hits and three walks. He also struck out eight.

Fernandez, meanwhile, gave up a two-run homer to Freddie Freeman in the first inning to suffer the tough-luck loss. He allowed three hits over six innings and struck out six to give him a Marlins rookie-record 173 strikeouts on the season.

"They (Teheran and Fernandez) both had tough innings. Those guys will battle for years to come," said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez.

The Braves have won five straight to push their edge for first place in the NL East to 14 games, while the Marlins have lost five straight and nine of their last 10.

Christian Yelich drove in the only run of the game for Miami.

"They were the better team. We just came up a little short. That is why they're in first place," said Fernandez.

The Braves are 9-4 versus the Marlins this season.






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