Hand, Salty Lead Marlins To 4-0 Win Over Braves
MIAMI (AP) - Brad Hand pitched six sharp innings, Jarrod Saltalamacchia drove in two runs and the Miami Marlins beat the Atlanta Braves 4-0 on Sunday.
Hand (3-6) gave up five hits and struck out three. Donovan Solano and Marcell Ozuna each drove in a run for the Marlins, who won two of three in the series.
Atlanta starter Julio Teheran (13-11) allowed four runs and eight hits in 5 1-3 innings.
In a tight race for the second NL wild card, the Braves have lost four of five.
Chris Hatcher, Mike Dunn and A.J. Ramos combined to pitch the final three innings for the Marlins.
Hand retired his first 11 batters before Freddie Freeman's two-out single in the fourth. He calmly pitched out of jams in the fourth and sixth by retiring Evan Gattis both times.
Teheran set down 13 in a row before Garrett Jones doubled in the fifth. Saltalamacchia followed with an RBI single to left field, giving Miami a 1-0 lead.
Teheran allowed four hits in the sixth, including an RBI single by Solano and an RBI double by Ozuna. The right-hander exited with the Braves trailing 3-0.
Saltalamacchia added a sacrifice fly.
Marlins: RHP Henderson Alvarez (left oblique strain) threw a bullpen before the game and did not feel any discomfort. The team hopes he can rejoin the rotation this week.
Atlanta begins a three-game series at Washington on Monday, with LHP Mike Minor (6-9, 4.65 ERA) on the mound against RHP Doug Fister (12-6, 2.66).
The Marlins travel to Milwaukee for a four-game set beginning Monday. RHP Brad Penny (1-1, 6.61 ERA) starts for Miami against RHP Yovani Gallardo (8-8, 3.43).
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