Marlins 6, Braves 3
Ricky Nolasco blocked out swirling trade rumors to pitch seven strong innings and Justin Ruggiano hit a three-run homer as visiting Miami snapped Atlanta’s four-game winning streak.
Nolasco (5-8) won for the second time in his last eight starts by holding the Braves to two runs on six hits with seven strikeouts and no walks in a steady rain. Ruggiano, Ed Lucas and Adeiny Hechavarria each had two hits as Miami snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Braves.
Atlanta starter Mike Minor (8-4) allowed four runs on six hits with nine strikeouts in six innings, and is winless in his past four starts. Brian McCann hit a solo homer, and Andrelton Simmons, Freddie Freeman and Chris Johnson added two hits for the Braves, whose major-league best home record dropped to 29-12.
The Braves built a 2-0 lead on Simmons’ third-inning single and McCann’s 10th homer of the season, a one-out drive into the front row of the right-field seats in the fourth. Ruggiano changed that on one swing, driving a 1-0 pitch over the wall in left with two outs in the fifth to make it 3-2.
The Marlins extended their advantage to 4-2 on Hechavarria’s double to right in the sixth and Jeff Mathis’ two-run double to the right-field corner in the eighth made it 6-2. Steve Cishek gave up a run-scoring single to Johnson in the ninth, but got the final two outs for his 16th save.
GAME NOTEBOOK: McCann's homer was the eighth of his career off Nolasco, but Nolasco recorded the 1,000th strikeout of his career by fanning McCann to end the sixth. … The Marlins removed C Miguel Olivo from the restricted list before the game and designated him for assignment. Olivo, who left the team June 15 after complaining about a lack of playing time, hit .203 with four homers and nine RBIs. … Atlanta CF B.J. Upton, who left Tuesday’s series opener with tightness in his left forearm, returned to the lineup and went 1-for-4 to raise his average to .177.