Fernandez overcame a rough start and became the first pitcher in the modern era to win his first 17 career home decisions.
Advertisement
Nicolino (4-4) allowed just two hits and a run in helping Miami beat the Braves for a sixth straight time, its longest winning streak against Atlanta since winning five in a row in 1997.
“Those players are playing with pride”, Marlins manager Dan Jennings said.
“He had no sink in his ball, everything was up”.
Gordon is hitting.332 on the season, ranking second to Washington?s Bryce Harper (.336) in the race for the National League batting crown, and his 54 stolen bases sits three behind league leader Billy Hamilton of Cincinnati.
A day after the Marlins won a 12-11 slugfest with 36 combined hits, Nicolino and Julio Teheran were much more stingy. Freeman went 3 for 4 with a two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning off Brian Ellington. Miami outhit Atlanta 9-5 in this one.
The right-hander returns to the mound at Marlins Park on Sunday as the Braves conclude a three-game series, and while many will point to an expansive winless stretch as this season’s ultimate misfortune, there’s a lot more to it. It was 84 degrees at the time of the first pitch.
The Braves loaded the bases in the eighth but Bryan Morris relieved and struck out Adonis Garcia to get out of the jam. “That was a momentum-stopper”. The Marlins have scored 19 runs in their last three games and four or more runs in six of their last 10 games. Miguel Rojas drew a bases loaded walk, pinch-hitter Casey McGehee hit a two-run single to left, and Gordon hit a sacrifice fly.
“He pitched good except for that home-run pitch to Bour”, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
“Just one pitch, one home run (by Bour), cost me the game”, Teheran said.
“That one is on me – I just have to slide there”, Bour said.
“It’s still painful, but I try not to think about it and go out and play”, he said.
Atlanta Braves’ Jace Peterson is congratulated by teammates after he scored on an RBI single in the ninth inning by Cameron Maybin during the Braves’ 6-2 loss to the Miami Marlins in a baseball game in Miami, Saturday, September 26, 2015. C Christian Bethancourt (left thumb) missed his fifth consecutive game and remains day to day.
Beyond Giancarlo Stanton’s lengthy deal, the Marlins have not had a notable amount success signing players to extensions in recent years. Justin Nicolino managed to keep the Braves to the single run despite striking out none and walking three; he induced ten groundballs and easily worked his way through a weak lineup. “Right now we’re getting close to that “yay” or “nay” date and where that is”.
Advertisement
“The last two innings I thought I was going to eat my whole finger”, he said. “Lucky and blessed is the way I feel right now”. “It’s the same two issues”. Shelby Miller gets the nod, and he’s 5-16 with a 3.00 ERA and 162 strikeouts this season. While Adam Conley has made notable strides in his past two starts, Nicolino was 0-2 with an 8.44 ERA.
