Ricky Nolasco struggled in the first inning, but settled in to give Florida five innings on the mound.
ATLANTA – For the third time in as many series, the Florida Marlins have taken two of three from their opponent. The Florida Marlins topped the Atlanta Braves 6-5 on Thursday night at Turner Field in Atlanta. The Marlins jumped out to a 3-0 in the top of the first inning with a RBI double by Mike Stanton followed by a two-run double by Logan Morrison. Atlanta answered in the bottom of the first with four runs off Marlins’ starter Ricky Nolasco before a single out was recorded. The Braves took the lead on a three-run-homer by catcher Brian McCann. Florida answered with a run in the second and another in the third take a 5-4 lead. Atlanta drew even on a Dan Uggla home run in the fifth inning.
Center fielder Chris Coghlan may have made the biggest play of the game for Florida; with the scored knotted at five in the bottom of the sixth and the bases loaded, pinch-hitter Brooks Conrad hit a line drive to center off reliever Brian Sanches. Coghlan ran down the fly ball and made an incredible diving catch. Florida took the lead in the top of the seventh on a John Buck single that scored Gaby Sanchez. Florida’s bullpen threw four scoreless innings with Brian Sanches getting the win and Leo Nunez recording his fourth save of the year. Eric O’Flaherty took the loss for Atlanta.
With the victory, Florida improves to 7-5, Atlanta falls to 5-8 with the loss. The Marlins will visit the Philadelphia Phillies for a three-game-set beginning Friday. Florida currently trails Philadelphia by two games in the National League East. Atlanta is 4.5 games back in the division. The Braves will host the Mets for a three-game-series beginning Friday.
