Marlins 5, Braves 2
Jose Fernandez dominated the final start of his rookie season, pitching seven strong innings, hitting his first major-league homer and sparking a benches-clearing argument as host Miami won.
Fernandez (12-6), who will be shut down for the final two weeks, allowed one run on five hits with five strikeouts. He belted a solo homer in the sixth, then exchanged words with Atlanta catcher Brian McCann after a slow trot around the bases, causing both benches to empty.
Atlanta starter Mike Minor (13-7) gave up five runs (four earned) on 11 hits in six innings. Evan Gattis hit his 19th homer for the Braves, whose lead in the National League East over Washington was trimmed to 11 games.
Giancarlo Stanton finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs for the Marlins, singling home a run in the first and hitting his 20th homer – a two-run shot to center – in the fifth. Logan Morrison had an RBI single and Placido Polanco added two hits to help Miami snap a four-game losing streak.
Atlanta’s Chris Johnson, who entered the game leading the National League in hitting, went 0-for-4 to drop his average to .328. Johnson exchanged words with Fernandez in the top of the sixth after flying out, and had to be restrained when the benches emptied in the bottom of the frame. No punches were thrown.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Minor gave up two homers for the second time in three starts, and has surrendered five longballs in that span after giving up just one homer in his previous nine outings. … Gattis has four homers and eight RBIs in eight games since being recalled from the minors. … Fernandez finished the season 9-0 with a 1.37 ERA in 15 home starts.