National League Game Summary - Miami at Atlanta
(Monday, July 30th)
Final Score: Atlanta 8, Miami 2
Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - For the first time in 2012, having a case of
the Mondays was a positive for the Braves.
It took 13 tries, but the Braves won on Monday for the first time this season,
cruising to a 8-2 win over the Miami Marlins in the opener of a four-game set.
"It was a good win," Braves starting pitcher Tommy Hanson (12-5) said.
"Finally got us a win on Monday."
It was not pretty, but Tommy Hanson established a new career high with 12
wins.
Hanson played with fire for the second straight outing without getting burned,
holding the Marlins to one run despite surrendering six hits and three walks
in five innings. Hanson beat the Marlins in his last start on Wednesday even
though he walked a career-high seven.
Jason Heyward picked up a pair of hits, including a home run, as the Braves
won their sixth straight game.
Mark Buehrle (9-10) lost his second straight decision on the heels of four
straight wins. The left-hander was tagged for six runs on eight hits and four
walks in only 4 1/3 innings.
"Three consecutive for me, go out in five innings," Buehrle said. "That's
really not acceptable. Like I said, I'm just falling behind too much and
having to make pitches in tough spots behind in the count."
Jose Reyes picked up an extra-base hit for the sixth straight game and
extended his hitting streak to 17 games with a pair of doubles.
Miami had the bases full in the second, but Buehrle fanned to end the threat.
The Braves led wire-to-wire and jumped out in front in the third inning when
Heyward hammered a hanging curveball deep into the right-field stands to give
Atlanta a 1-0 lead.
Atlanta tacked on another run in the fourth when Paul Janish worked a walk,
advanced to second on a bunt and scored when Michael Bourn grounded a base hit
up the middle.
Reyes drove in Emilio Bonifacio with a bloop double to left field to put Miami
on the board in the fifth, but when Carlos Lee singled to left, Reyes was
thrown out at the plate by Martin Prado to end the inning.
The Braves never looked back from there, rallying for four runs in the bottom
half of the frame and blowing the game open.
Heyward led off the fifth with a single and reached third when Freddie Freeman
slammed a double off the right-field fence. Brian McCann walked before Dan
Uggla stroked a sinking line drive to left, which was misplayed by left
fielder Bryan Petersen, for a two-run double, ending Buehrle's night.
Carlos Zambrano, making his first relief appearance since 2010, entered, but
could not stop the bleeding. Two batters later, pinch-hitter Juan Francisco
lined a two-out, two-strike single to left to score two more and give the
Braves a 6-1 lead.
Freeman singled home Heyward in the sixth and Janish scored on a force out in
the seventh to round out the Braves' scoring.
The Marlins picked up an unearned run in the ninth when Austin Kearns scored
on pitcher Luis Avilan's error with two outs, but the left-hander retired
Reyes to end the game.
Game Notes
Buehrle walked four hitters in consecutive starts for the first time since
June 4 and June 10, 2006...Prior to the game, the Marlins announced that Wade
LeBlanc will start in place of Zambrano on Wednesday...The Braves have won
nine of their last 11 at home...Atlanta moves to a season-high 14 games over
.500...The Marlins had their two-game win streak snapped and have now lost
nine of 12...The Braves lead the season series between the two teams, 7-2.
07/30 23:36:04 ET

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