Marlins 6, Braves 2
MIAMI -- The Miami Marlins scored four first-inning runs and held on to defeat the Atlanta Braves 6-2 on Wednesday afternoon at Marlins Park.
The last-place Marlins snapped a five-game losing streak, their longest skid since they dropped nine straight in May.
The first-place Braves, who were seeking their eighth series sweep of the season, settled for two out of three and ended their road trip 3-3.
Placido Polanco was the Marlins' hitting star, going 3 for 5 with three RBI.
Miami starter Jacob Turner (3-1), who entered the game 3-0 with a 1.19 ERA in his past five starts at Marlins Park, was solid, allowing just two runs in seven innings. He also hit a triple in the fourth but was stranded.
Braves starter Paul Maholm (9-8), who threw seven shutout innings against the Marlins on April 8, took the loss, walking five and allowing seven hits and four runs in 4 1/3 innings.
His problems started right away as the Marlins got their first three batters on base, which led to that four-run inning. The biggest hit was Giancarlo Stanton's two-run double that bounced off the wall in left-center field. Stanton pulled an 81 mph breaking ball that was low and outside.
With one out, Polanco bounced a run-scoring double down the third-base line. And with two out and a base open for the pitcher, Jeff Mathis looped a run-scoring single over second baseman Dan Uggla.
The Braves scored a run in the second on two opposite-field doubles. Chris Johnson drove the ball over the head of Stanton, who did not take a great angle in right field. Uggla picked up the RBI when his double hit the bag at first.
In the sixth, the Braves closed their deficit to 4-2 when Freddie Freeman stroked a one-out double to left and scored on a groundout by Johnson.
Polanco added a two-run single in the eighth.
NOTES: Attendance at Marlins Park was 23,921. ... Braves reliever Cristian Martinez, sidelined since the first week of the season, had shoulder surgery and is out for the year. ... Braves OF Jordan Schafer (bruised ankle) has been given permission to do light running and could be ready to return by July 19. ... The Braves are spending their 100th consecutive day in first place, an MLB high this season. ... With Friday's deadline fast approaching, the Marlins have yet to sign their first-round pick (University of North Carolina 3B Colin Moran) or third-rounder Ben Deluzio, a prep middle infielder from Orlando, Fla. ... RHP Chad Qualls and lefty pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs could be traded by the July 31 deadline because both will be free agents after the season, and the Marlins want to get something for them before they bolt. ... Two players who will be eligible for salary arbitration and thus likely pay increases next spring -- OF Justin Ruggiano and RHP Ryan Webb -- could also be moved by the tight-fisted Marlins, who have no one on their roster making even the major-league minimum of $3.25 million. ... The Marlins' highest-paid player is Polanco ($2.75 million).
