Braves 8, Marlins 2
Martin Prado homered and drove in three runs and Jason Heyward added a pair of solo shots as visiting Atlanta capped a three-game sweep of Miami.
Michael Bourn provided insurance with a three-run blast in the ninth inning for the Braves, who have won six of their last seven overall and 10 of 12 at Miami. The Marlins fell behind Atlanta and New York into fourth place in the National League East after mustering just three runs in the series.
Mike Minor (3-4) was credited with the win. He allowed Jose Reyes' first homer of the season while walking a season-high five batters and striking out four.
After Bourn extended the sixth inning with a two-out single to shallow center, Prado deposited an offering from Mark Buehrle (5-6) over the wall in left field. The homer - which gave Atlanta a 2-1 lead - was Prado's fourth of the season and first since May 18.
Heyward sandwiched solo shots around Prado's RBI single in the eighth inning before Bourn's blast to center in the ninth put the game out of reach.
Reyes snapped a scoreless tie in the fifth inning by launching a high fastball off the top of the wall and into the seats in left field. The homer came in Reyes' 222nd at-bat with Miami.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Buehrle took the hard-luck loss after yielding just two runs on three hits in six innings. ... X-rays performed on the index finger of Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman were negative. He was held out of Thursday's contest as a precaution. ... Atlanta first-round pick Lucas Sims signed a contract on Thursday and is expected to join the club's Gulf Coast League affiliate. Sims, who is a right-hander from Brookwood High School in Snellville, Ga., was the 21st overall pick of the 2012 draft.