Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker publicly commended two of the team’s top stars following their recent victory against the Miami Marlins. Snitker highlighted their exceptional performances, which were instrumental in securing the win. Their contributions, both on and off the field, continue to drive the Braves’ success as they push forward in the season
Michael Harris II was crucial to the Braves’ victory, hitting a triple, a single, and scoring the go-ahead run in the seventh inning. The Braves (85-71) now find themselves two games behind the New York Mets in the race for the third NL wild card spot. Next, they will host a three-game series against the Mets starting Tuesday.
“This was one of the toughest games I’ve been part of in a long time,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker. “It’s amazing how our guys kept stepping up.”
In the seventh inning, Jorge Soler hit an infield single with the bases loaded, allowing Harris to score from third and give Atlanta the lead.
In the bottom of the inning, the Marlins mounted a threat by loading the bases with no outs against Aaron Bummer. Otto López and Derek Hill both singled, and Nick Fortes reached on a sacrifice attempt when Bummer failed to get the force out at third. However, Bummer recovered by striking out Xavier Edwards, and Daysbel Hernández finished the inning by striking out Connor Norby and getting Jesús Sánchez to line out to right field.
Braves closer Raisel Iglesias took care of the final two innings to secure his 32nd save of the season. It was his sixth two-inning appearance this year.
“Pitching two innings is different from pitching one,” Iglesias said in Spanish. “You have to be more composed in the eighth and then come out aggressive in the ninth to finish the job.”
Pierce Johnson (6-5) earned the win after getting three key outs in the sixth inning.
“That was a battle,” said Braves catcher Sean Murphy. “We used our whole bullpen. It was a back-and-forth game, and they never let up. It was fun to be part of a game like that.”
Miami (57-99) tied the game 4-4 in the sixth inning with back-to-back home runs from Norby and Sánchez. However, the Marlins struggled with runners in scoring position, going 0-for-7, and the Braves won the season series 9-4.
“We were fighting all game but just couldn’t get the hit we needed,” said Norby.
Harris tied the game with an RBI triple in the fifth inning and later scored on a single by Matt Olson, erasing a 2-1 Miami lead.
Urshela’s solo home run in the sixth extended Atlanta’s lead. Earlier, Jake Burger had given the Marlins a 2-1 lead with a solo shot off Braves starter Grant Holmes in the fourth inning. Jonah Bride had previously tied the game at 1-1 with a solo homer in the second.
Holmes pitched four-plus innings, allowing two runs on three hits while walking one and striking out five.
Albies, recently back from a wrist injury, opened the scoring with a solo home run in the first inning, his ninth of the season. He took an 0-1 pitch from Marlins starter Darren McCaughan over the left-field wall.
“The more at-bats he gets, the better he’ll be,” said Snitker. “It’s just about recognizing those breaking balls.”
McCaughan allowed one run on four hits over four innings, walking one, striking out five, and hitting
one batter.
In their final home game of the season, the Marlins drew a crowd of 20,104, bringing their total attendance to 1,085,055 for the season, ranking 29th in Major League Baseball, ahead of only the Oakland A’s. In 2023, the Marlins had 1,162,819 fans when they broke a 20-year playoff drought.
Sunday might also mark Skip Schumaker’s last home game as Marlins manager. The reigning NL Manager of the Year had his contract’s third year canceled before the season began, leaving his future with the team uncertain.
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