Braves 4, Marlins 1
Alex Gonzalez socked a three-run homer in the seventh inning to give the Atlanta Braves to a 4-1 win over the visiting Florida Marlins in the rubber game of a three-game series at Turner Field.
The win enabled the Braves to reduce their magic number for clinching
the National League wild card to nine. St. Louis, which is 4 1/2 games back of Atlanta, defeated Pittsburgh 3-2 on Wednesday afternoon.
With the game tied 1-1, Gonzalez connected against Florida starter Ricky Nolasco (10-11), who took a 1-0 lead and a one-hitter in the seventh. Gonzalez, who took three days off to rest his sore back when the team was in St. Louis, was 8-for-11 in the three-game series against the Marlins.
Ed O'Flaherty (2-4) earned the win with one shutout inning of relief. Craig Kimbrel pitched a scoreless ninth inning, striking out two, for his 44th save.
Florida did not get a hit after the third inning.
Atlanta rookie starter Randall Delgado picked up a no-decision despite allowing only one run in five innings.