Braves 6, Marlins 0
MIAMI -- Right-hander Shelby Miller came within one out of a no-hitter, pitching a two-hitter, as the Atlanta Braves defeated the Miami Marlins 6-0 on Sunday afternoon.
Miller (5-1) had a no-hitter until two outs in the ninth, when first baseman Justin Bour smacked the first pitch for a single. Second baseman Dee Gordon followed with a single. Miller then retired third baseman Martin Prado on a pop out to end the game.
Prior to that inning, the only blemish for Miller came in the second, when he walked center fielder Marcell Ozuna.
Miller had survived two close calls. The first came in the third inning, when Marlins pitcher Henderson Alvarez hit an apparent infield single to shortstop Pedro Ciriaco, but the play was overturned after a video review.
In the third inning, Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton lined a long drive that was caught at the wall by left fielder Todd Cunningham.
For Miller, 24, who was acquired this past offseason from the St. Louis Cardinals in the Jason Heyward trade, it was his fourth career shutout and his second this season. He pitched a three-hitter against the Phillies on May 5.
Atlanta (18-19) is 6-0 at Marlins Park this year, sweeping Miami twice -- once to open the season and again this weekend. The Braves are just 12-19 in all other games.
Miami (16-22), which entered the season with a great deal of hype after an active offseason, has lost six of its past seven games.
Alvarez (0-3), who came off the disabled to make the start, took the loss. Alvarez, who had been out since April 12 due to shoulder inflammation, allowed nine hits, two walks and six runs in 5 1/3 innings.
The Braves used six hits and a walk to score five times in the second inning. The big blows were an RBI double by catcher A.J. Pierzynski, a two-run single by second baseman Jace Peterson and an RBI single by first baseman Freddie Freeman. The hits by Peterson and Freeman came with two outs.
The Braves went up 6-0 in the sixth. Ciriaco doubled to lead off and scored on a single by center fielder Cameron Maybin.
NOTES: Braves RHP Williams Perez will make his first big-league start on Wednesday vs. Tampa Bay. Perez, who turns 24 on Thursday, was 2-0 with a 1.33 ERA in Triple-A this season. But he has a 15.43 ERA in two relief appearances with Atlanta this year. ... The Braves moved LHP Eric Stults (1-4, 5.36 ERA) to the bullpen. Stults is 0-3 with a 7.00 ERA so far this month. ... As expected, Miami sent RHP Nick Masset to the minors. ... Miami rested C J.T. Realmuto, starting backup C Jhonatan Solano. ... Atlanta rested SS Andrelton Simmons, starting backup SS Pedro Ciriaco. It was Ciriaco's first start of the season. ... The Braves are off Monday and then start a six-game homestand -- two with Tampa Bay and four with Milwaukee. ... Miami's 10-game homestand continues Monday with the first of four games against Arizona.