Marlins 8, Braves 4
Marlins 8, Braves 4: Giancarlo Stanton kept up his hot hitting with a two-run home run and Austin Kearns and Emilio Bonifacio added two RBIs apiece as Miami won for the 12th time in 15 games.
The Braves traded places with Washington at the top of the National League East standings. They fell a half-game behind the Nationals, who beat Pittsburgh 7-4. Miami pulled within three games of the lead.
Braves left-hander Mike Minor (2-3) breezed through the first three innings without allowing a hit, but the wheels came off in the fourth. Kearns gave Miami the lead for good with a two-run double to left-center and Bonifacio added an RBI single later in the inning.
The Marlins added three more in the fifth - including one when Jose Reyes swiped home on a delayed double steal - and two in the seventh on Stanton's two-run blast off reliever Cristhian Martinez.
Marlins left-hander Mark Buehrle (3-4) ran into trouble in the sixth, giving up three runs to allow the Braves to get within 6-4. He was effective enough over six innings to improve to 3-0 in three career starts against Atlanta.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Marlins starters have lasted at least six innings in 32 of 38 games this season. … Stanton has hit all eight of his home runs since April 29, a span of 17 games. He did not have a home run in his first 19 games. … Bonifacio stole his league-leading 20th base. He has not been caught. The Marlins stole four bases to up their league-leading total to 44. … Braves 1B Freddie Freeman returned to the lineup after missing Tuesday's game with scratches in both eyes and went 0-for-3 with an RBI.