Braves Expose Marlins

     The Atlanta Braves beat the Miami Marlins 8-3 at loanDepot park on Saturday. The Marlins will end up with a losing record this year and conclude their 2026 season tomorrow.

     Atlanta(94-67) had a 1-0 advantage in the top of the first. Matt Olson hit a sacrifice fly into shallow left field to score Michael Harris II. 

     The Braves expanded their lead to 4-0 in the second inning with three more runs. Dominic Smith powered a two-run homer to right field on a 1-1 pitch with Mike Yastrzemski aboard. It was the ninth home run for Smith of the campaign. Three batters later, Javier Sanoja made a fielding error on a Ronald Acuna Jr. ground ball and Ha-Seong Kim scored.      

     The Bravos composed two additional runs in the top of the fourth and led 6-0. Harris knocked in Kim with a double inside the left-field line. Two batters later, Olson got an infield hit to first and Harris crossed the plate. 

     Miami(79-82) got on the scoreboard during the bottom of the fourth with two runs and trailed 6-2. Sanoja belted a solo home run to left field on a 1-1 count for his 11th homer of the season. Three batters after that, Griffin Conine singled through the left side and Agustin Ramirez reached home. 

     The Marlins closed it to 6-3 in the seventh inning. Heriberto Hernandez drove in Otto Lopez with a triple into the left-field corner. 

     Atlanta concluded the game during the top of the ninth. Drake Baldwin cracked a two-run home run to center field on a 2-0 pitch for his 25th homer this season. Harris scored in front of him on the play.