Marlins at Braves
Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco will take his second crack at becoming
the franchise's all-time wins leader when Florida wraps up a quick
two-game series at Turner Field.
Miami earned its 12th win in 15
games in the series opener, roughing up Braves pitching in an 8-4
victory. The Marlins have pulled within three games of Washington, which
leapfrogged Atlanta by a half-game for the National League East lead by
beating Pittsburgh 7-4 on Wednesday.
Miami's Giancarlo Stanton
continued his hot hitting Wednesday, blasting a two-run homer in the
seventh inning. All of Stanton's team-high eight home runs have come
since April 29, a span of 17 games.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), SportSouth (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Ricky Nolasco (4-1, 3.65 ERA) vs. Braves RH Brandon Beachy (4-1, 1.60)
Nolasco
is stuck on 68 wins and tied with Dontrelle Willis for the franchise
lead after a disastrous start Saturday against the Mets. He allowed six
runs on nine hits, walked three and hit two batters in 4 2/3 innings to
suffer his first loss of the season. Nolasco is 5-7 with a 4.80 ERA in
20 games against the Braves, including a 3-3 mark and 4.91 ERA in 10
starts at Turner Field.
Beachy posted his sixth consecutive
quality start Saturday at St. Louis, holding the Cardinals to one run on
two hits over six innings and matching a season high with six
strikeouts. Beachy has not allowed more than two earned runs in any of
his seven starts this season. He is 1-0 with a 4.01 ERA in four starts
against the Marlins.
WALK-OFFS
1. Braves hitters
have terrorized Nolasco, led by Brian McCann (16-for-47, six homers),
Chipper Jones (15-for-42, four homers) and Martin Prado (11-for-31).
2.
The Marlins lead the majors with 44 stolen bases, including four
Wednesday. Emilio Bonifacio leads the way with a MLB-best 20 steals in
20 attempts.
3. Marlins starters have gone at least six innings
in 32 of 38 games this season. Nolasco has been the exception to the
rule, lasting at least six frames in only four of his seven starts.