Marlins deliver timely hits, win series over Braves

Otto Lopez had two hits and a pair of RBIs and Kyle Stowers homered to help the Miami Marlins post a 5-3 rubber-game victory over the visiting Atlanta Braves on Sunday afternoon.
Xavier Edwards went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Sandy Alcantara (4-8) threw six innings of six-hit, three-run ball, while striking out four and walking two.
Ronny Henriquez allowed Alex Verdugo’s leadoff single in the ninth before getting Michael Harris II to ground into a double play and striking out Sean Murphy for his second save of the season. Miami also recorded its first series win over Atlanta since September 2023.
Bryce Elder (2-4) allowed five runs on 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out four and walking one for the Braves, who followed a three-game sweep of the New York Mets with a series loss in Miami. Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies each went 2-for-4.
After doubling on the game’s first pitch, Acuna advanced to third on Matt Olson’s flyout and scored on Austin Riley’s single to left.
Stowers’ 11th home run of the season in the bottom of the second knotted the score at 1-1.
The Braves reclaimed the lead in the third, as Acuna’s single and Olson’s walk were followed with Drake Baldwin’s two-out RBI single.
Miami pulled even again in the bottom of the third, as Edwards walked and stole his 14th base of 2025 before scoring on Lopez’s single to center.
The Marlins grabbed the lead in the fifth as Jesus Sanchez tripled and Lopez singled. With two outs, Dane Myers singled in Lopez to make it 4-2.
Atlanta got one run back in the sixth as Baldwin walked, Albies singled and Verdugo grounded out to get the visitors within 4-3.
Miami padded its lead in the sixth as Nick Fortes doubled and reached third on Javier Sanoja’s sacrifice bunt. Elder was replaced by Dylan Dodd, who allowed Edwards’ RBI single to right.
Anthony Bender relieved Alcantara in the seventh, throwing 1 1/3 scoreless innings.