Jorge Soler drove in the tie-breaking run with an infield single off the pitcher’s glove in the seventh inning as the wild-card contending Atlanta Braves earned a crucial 5-4 win over the host Miami Marlins on Sunday afternoon.
With two outs in the seventh, Marlins reliever Declan Cronin couldn’t handle Soler’s comebacker, allowing Michael Harris II to score from third.
The Braves (85-71) trail the New York Mets (86-69), who were scheduled to host the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night, by 1.5 games for the final National League wild-card playoff berth.
Miami (57-99) has the worst record in the NL.
Atlanta got solo homers from Ozzie Albies and Gio Urshela.
Albies’ homer was his first since July 6. He missed two months due to a fractured left wrist, suffering the injury on July 21 and returning on Sept. 20
Miami got solo homers from Jonah Bride, Jake Burger, Connor Norby and Jesus Sanchez. For Burger, it was his team-high 28th dinger of the year. Sanchez is second with 18.
Marlins starter Darren McCaughan left with a 2-1 lead. However, he lasted just four innings and settled for another no-decision. He has made 15 MLB appearances, including six starts, and has zero career decisions.
Atlanta opened the scoring in the first inning as Albies pulled his 414-foot homer down the left field line.
The Braves nearly got more in that inning, loading the bases with one out. But Ramon Laureano bounced into a double play as third baseman Norby stepped on the bag and fired to first.
Miami tied the score 1-1 in the second as Bride homered.
The Marlins grabbed a 2-1 lead in the fourth on great hitting by Burger. On a low-and-inside curve that was out of the zone, Burger mashed the pitch 411 feet to left.
Atlanta went ahead 3-2 in the fifth as Orlando Arica led off with a single and scored when Harris followed and pulled a triple down the right field line. Harris was nearly stranded at third before Matt Olson singled with two outs.
Miami threatened in the bottom of the fifth when Bride walked and Griffin Conine doubled. Atlanta reliever Dylan Lee came in and escaped the jam.
The Braves stretched their lead to 4-2 in the sixth on Urshela’s homer.
Miami tied the score 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth on homers by Norby (419 feet) and Sanchez (436 feet).
After Soler gave Atlanta a 5-4 lead in the top of the seventh, Miami threatened in the bottom of the frame, loading the bases with no outs on a single to left, a bunt single and a sacrifice with all runners safe.
But Aaron Bummer struck out Xavier Edwards, and Daysbel Hernandez got the last two outs of the inning, striking out Norby and getting Sanchez on a 101-mph liner to right.
–Field Level Media