Marlins Look To Bounce Back After Series Opening Loss In Atlanta
MIAMI (AP) - Jose Fernandez made just one costly mistake in his last outing for the Miami Marlins, which came after a rare rough start.
As the Atlanta Braves go for their fifth straight home victory, Fernandez will try to help the Marlins bounce back from a series-opening loss with their fourth win in five games Tuesday night.
For only the second time in his career, the 2013 NL Rookie of the Year allowed at least six runs April 11 in a 6-3 loss at Philadelphia. He also tied career highs by giving up eight hits and walking four in four innings.
Fernandez (2-1, 2.66 ERA) appeared to be back on track Wednesday before letting things slip away and not receiving a decision in a 6-3 home loss to Washington.
The right-hander surrendered three runs - none earned - over seven innings, allowing one batter to reach base in the first five before catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia's throwing error put runners at first and third with nobody out in the sixth.
He then retired the next two batters before allowing a tying three-run homer.
"It's part of the game," Fernandez said. "Obviously not what I wanted to happen, but we learn from it."
Fernandez has pitched well against the Braves (13-6), going 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in two starts last season. In his only outing at Turner Field, he allowed two runs and three hits over six innings in a 2-1 defeat Aug. 30.
Freddie Freeman supplied all the offense for the Braves in that game with a first-inning, two-run homer off Fernandez. The slugging first baseman is 3 for 6, including a double, in their matchups while Chris Johnson, Andrelton Simmons and Justin Upton are a combined 1 for 14.
Simmons, who is 4 for 9 with two homers in his last two home games, hit a solo shot Monday before Evan Gattis delivered a two-run homer in the bottom of the 10th in a 4-2 victory.
Gattis is hitting .381 with four homers and 15 RBIs in 11 career games against Miami (9-11).
Atlanta's Alex Wood (2-2, 1.67) has limited opponents to two runs or less in each of his four outings. He went the distance for the first time in his career Thursday, giving up one run over eight innings in a 1-0 loss at Philadelphia.
"You can't ask for anything more out of him," manager Fredi Gonzalez said of Wood, who has received one run of support in his two losses. "He did a terrific job."
The left-hander had held the Marlins scoreless on five hits over nine innings in three appearances - one start - before surrendering a career-high seven runs and eight hits while lasting 2 1-3 innings in a 7-0 home loss Sept. 1.
Backup catcher Jeff Mathis homered off Wood in that game and is 3 for 4 with a double in the matchup. Christian Yelich has gone 3 for 5 against Wood, and he's batting .381 over a 15-game hitting streak.
Garrett Jones homered Monday before Derek Dietrich tied it in the ninth with an RBI double off Atlanta closer Craig Kimbrel, who has allowed three runs in his last two outings.
Giancarlo Stanton went 0 for 5, lowering his average to .169 with two homers in his last 18 games against the Braves.
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