Travis d’Arnaud and Vaughn Grissom each belted two-out, two-run home runs in the decisive fourth inning as the host Atlanta Braves defeated the Miami Marlins 8-1 on Friday night.
Michael Harris II added a two-run homer in the sixth inning, and d’Arnaud and Austin Riley added solo shots in the seventh.
Harris’ dinger, which traveled 436 feet, was the longest of the night as Atlanta won its third straight game. Miami lost its fifth straight contest.
The Braves defeated Sandy Alcantara (12-7), who entered the weekend as a frontrunner for the National League’s Cy Young Award. He allowed seven hits, one walk and six runs in five innings.
It was the first time all year that Alcantara allowed three homers in a game. He had allowed just 10 homers in his first 26 starts this year.
Charlie Morton (7-5) earned the win, allowing four hits, two walks and one run in 5 2/3 innings. Morton, who struck out seven batters, improved to 11-5 in his career against the Marlins.
Miami’s offense was led by rookie left fielder Jerar Encarnacion, who slugged his second homer in just his 13th major league game. Joey Wendle added two hits.
The Marlins threatened in the second inning as rookie Charles Leblanc doubled and reached third with one out on Morton’s wild pitch. But Morton got Jacob Stallings and Lewin Diaz on groundouts.
However, the Marlins got their 1-0 lead soon enough as Encarnacion jumped on a first-pitch fastball, lofting it 356 feet over the fence in right field to lead off the third inning.
Atlanta took a 4-1 lead as Dansby Swanson’s single preceded d’Arnaud’s homer, and Harris’ single set up Grissom’s dinger.
In the sixth, d’Arnaud was hit by a pitch, and Harris followed with his homer.
The Braves made it 8-1 in the seventh as Riley and d’Arnaud went deep.
Atlanta will try to clinch the three-game series on Saturday when the Braves start right-hander Jake Odorizzi (5-5, 3.90 ERA). He will make his sixth start since being acquired by the Braves on Aug. 2. Miami will start rookie right-hander Edward Cabrera (4-2, 2.45 ERA).
–Field Level Media