Sep 11, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Miami Marlins outfielder Bryan De La Cruz (77) hits an RBI single scoring shortstop Miguel Rojas (not pictured) next to Atlanta Braves catcher Travis d'Arnaud (16) during the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Bryan De La Cruz had three hits, including a tiebreaking solo home run in the eighth inning, helping the visiting Miami Marlins to a 6-4 win against the Atlanta Braves in the middle game of their three-game series on Saturday evening.
Jesus Sanchez followed De La Cruz with another two-out blast off Atlanta reliever Richard Rodriguez (4-4). Eddy Alvarez hit his first major-league homer earlier in the game for the Marlins.
Miami starter Elieser Hernandez took a 3-0 lead into the fifth inning, but departed after allowing three runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out four and walked one for Miami (60-82), which has won three of four.
Zach Pop, Anthony Bass (3-7) and Anthony Bender blanked the Braves over the next 3 1/3 innings before Dylan Floro closed the ninth for his 10th save.
Braves right-hander Charlie Morton was aiming to win at least 14 games for the fourth time in the past five seasons, but left with the score tied 3-3 after seven innings. He gave up six hits, struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter.
Rodriguez, who had allowed a solo home run in each of his previous two appearances, got the first two batters out in the eighth before De La Cruz slammed a full-count pitch over the fence in center field for a 4-3 lead.
Sanchez went deep two pitches later for a 5-3 lead.
The Marlins tacked on a run in the ninth on a squeeze bunt by Miguel Rojas to make it 6-3.
Freddie Freeman brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth with an RBI single to make it 6-4, but Floro got Austin Riley to fly out to end the game.
The Braves (75-66) lead the Philadelphia Phillies by 3 1/2 games for the National League East lead.
Rojas led off the game with a double and took third on a bunt single by Jazz Chisholm Jr.
De La Cruz followed with an RBI single for a 1-0 lead, and Lewis Brinson delivered a sacrifice fly to score Chisholm and make it 2-0.
Alvarez homered in the second inning to increase the lead to 3-0.
Morton doubled with one out in the fifth and the Braves then strung together three straight two-out RBI base hits by Jorge Soler (double), Freeman (single) and Riley (single) to tie the score 3-3.
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