Matt Olson slugged a tie-breaking, two-run homer in the seventh inning as the Atlanta Braves defeated the host Miami Marlins 6-2 on Saturday afternoon.
Gio Urshela followed Olson with another two-run homer in the seventh. Former Marlins star Jorge Soler had a solo blast in the second inning.
The Braves (84-71) entered the day two games behind the New York Mets for the final National League wild-card playoff berth. The Braves gained no ground as the Mets also won on Saturday.
Miami (57-98) has the worst record in the NL.
Braves starter Max Fried (10-10) earned the win, allowing five hits, one walk and two runs (one earned) in six innings. He struck out six batters.
Martins starter Adam Oller allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings. He kept the Marlins in the game and left with a no-decision.
Reliever Lake Bachar (0-1) took the loss after allowing the homers to Olson and Urshela.
Miami opened the scoring in the first inning. With two outs and none on, Jonah Bride singled and scored on Derek Hill’s opposite-field triple down the line in right.
Atlanta tied the score in the second as Soler pulled an inside fastball down the left field line for his 21st homer of the season.
Soler had an opportunity to do much more damage in the third as the Braves loaded the bases with one out. However, Soler popped out to first base, and Ramon Laureano flied out to right to end the threat.
The Braves took a 2-1 lead in the fifth as Ozzie Albies singled, advanced on Marcell Ozuna’s walk and scored on Olson’s one-out single to center.
The Marlins tied the score in the sixth. Bride walked and advanced on Hill’s single to start a one-out rally.
Otto Lopez then hit a grounder to third baseman Urshela, who got the forceout. But second baseman Albies, trying for the inning-ending double play, bounced his throw past Olson at first. That Albies error allowed Bride to step on home plate, tying the score 2-2.
But the Braves broke the game open in the seventh. Ozuna singled and Olson homered to give Atlanta a 4-2 lead. Urshela added his homer with Laureano aboard after a double.
–Field Level Media
