Braves 8, Marlins 2
Dan Uggla and Juan Francisco each drove in two runs in the fifth inning, sparking Atlanta to its sixth consecutive victory - and its first on a Monday this season.
The Braves had been 0-12 in Monday games, and had lost 16 consecutive Monday contests dating back to last August. Uggla’s double to left field and Francisco’s pinch-hit single to left each plated a pair of runs, turning a slim 2-1 Atlanta lead to a commanding 6-1 advantage after five innings.
Jason Heyward hit his 17th homer of the season in the third, a solo shot to right off Miami starter Mark Buehrle (9-10). Tommy Hanson (12-5) pitched five innings to win for the seventh time in his past 11 starts for Atlanta, which acquired outfielder Reed Johnson and left-hander Paul Maholm from the Chicago Cubs for pitching prospects Arodys Vizcaino and Jaye Chapman.
Heyward’s homer gave the Braves a 1-0 lead, and Michael Bourn’s single to center in the fourth scored Paul Janish to put Atlanta ahead 2-0. Miami cut the lead to 2-1 in the fifth on Jose Reyes’ double, scoring Emilio Bonifacio. Reyes was thrown out at home by Atlanta left fielder Martin Prado to end the inning.
Uggla and Francisco then put the game away. Uggla’s line-drive double to left scored Heyward and Freddie Freeman. Francisco’s line-drive single to left brought home Brian McCann and Uggla.
Hanson, who allowed seven walks and seven stolen bases in a victory at Miami last Wednesday, scattered six hits, walked three and struck out four. Freeman finished with three hits, and Heyward scored three times as Atlanta improved to 4-0 on its current 10-game homestand.
Buehrle lasted just 4 1/3 innings, surrendering eight hits and six runs with four walks and three strikeouts. The Marlins have lost nine of their past 12 games.
Carlos Lee went 3-for-3 for the Marlins. Reyes finished 2-for-5, extending his hitting streak to 17 games, the longest current streak in the majors.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Braves have scored six or more runs in seven of Hanson’s past eight starts. … Hanson’s 12 victories are a career high, surpassing the 11 he won in 2009 and 2011. … Buehrle failed to pitch five innings for the first time all season. … Uggla has run-scoring doubles in consecutive games after enduring a 0-for-21 stretch. … The victory pulled the Braves within 3 1/2 games of idle Washington in the NL East. Atlanta is 16-5 since the July 4.