twins/mlb

Final Score: Atlanta 3, Miami 0

Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Paul Maholm struck out six over 6 2/3 scoreless innings on Wednesday, as the playoff-bound Atlanta Braves blanked the Miami Marlins, 3-0, at Turner Field.

Maholm (13-10) scattered five hits without walking a batter to improve to 7-1 in 10 starts this season against teams from the NL East.

"You want to be able to pitch well going into the playoffs," Maholm said. "I tried to do as much as I could to treat it like a playoff game. The defense made some plays and obviously putting up some runs helps."

Martin Prado clubbed a solo home run and added an RBI single en route to his NL-leading 59th multi-hit game for the Braves, who clinched a playoff berth on Freddie Freeman's game-winning, two-run homer in the opener of this three-game set on Tuesday.

Atlanta remains four games behind Washington atop the NL East after the Nationals downed the Phillies on Wednesday.

Josh Johnson (8-14) gave up three runs -- two earned -- on four hits and five walks with seven strikeouts over six frames to absorb the loss.

Gil Velazquez had two of Miami's six hits, as the Marlins lost their sixth consecutive game.

"They're pushing to still try and win the division," Marlins outfielder Bryan Petersen said of the Braves. "They've still got stuff to play for and it kind of showed tonight."

Prado belted a one-out blast into the seats in left-center field in the first before plating another run in the third when Jose Constanza worked a leadoff walk, stole second and came around to score on a single into right field.

The Braves tacked on a run in the sixth when Dan Uggla reached first on Velazquez's throwing error and then moved to third on a Brian McCann single.

McCann found second on Andrelton Simmons' groundout before Uggla stole home when Maholm missed a bunt attempt and Johnson's offering sailed to the backstop.

Maholm retired 13 straight hitters after Jose Reyes' one-out single in the third before giving up a two-out single to Velazquez in the seventh.

Chad Durbin entered and fanned pinch-hitter Austin Kearns to end the frame.

Eric O'Flaherty worked around a one-out single in the eighth and Craig Kimbrel struck out four batters in the ninth to nail down his 40th save of the season.

Game Notes

It was McCann's 1,000th career game ... Johnson has lost three straight starts ... Miami outfielder Giancarlo Stanton sat out with a sore left intercostal muscle. He hasn't played since Sept. 16 ... Atlanta outfielder Michael Bourn missed his third straight game with a left thumb injury ... O'Flaherty has now made 27 consecutive scoreless appearances, spanning 24.0 innings.