Marlins Hand Braves 3-1 Loss In Atlanta
ATLANTA (CBS4) – After being beaten two in a row in 'Hot-lanta" by the Atlanta Braves, the Florida Marlins were able to turn the tables on them Sunday.
Ricky Nolasco scattered 12 hits, Emilio Bonifacio homered and the Marlins handed the Braves the 10,000th loss in franchise history, beating then 3-1.
The Braves began the day savoring a deadline trade for speedy outfielder Michael Bourn, acquired from Houston in a five-player deal. They could've used him right away, especially when fill-in centerfielder Jose Constanza got thrown out twice on the basepaths.
The Braves squandered numerous scoring chances to become only the second team in big league history with 10,000 losses. The Phillies reached that mark in 2007.
Nolasco (8-7) lasted 6 2-3 innings. Leo Nunez came on in the ninth for his 30th save.
Atlanta starter Tommy Hanson (11-6) gave up all three Florida runs in six innings.
Bourn, a two-time Gold Glover who leads the NL in stolen bases, had to fly in from Milwaukee and won't join the Braves until they open at series at Washington on Monday.
The Braves picked up their 10,000th win a couple of weeks ago, including their time in Boston and Milwaukee.
Atlanta outhit the Marlins 13-7 but left 10 runners on base.
The Braves jumped ahead in the first when Constanza led off with a double, moved to third on Martin Prado's single and came home when Freddie Freeman grounded into a double play.
Florida tied it in the second, manufacturing a run after Hanley Ramirez led off with a walk. He stole second, tagged and went to third on a flyout and came home on Mike Stanton's single to center.
In the third, the Marlins went ahead for good. Omar Infante reached on an infield single and sprinted all the way around to score when Greg Dobbs doubled into the right-field corner, the ball sticking against the wall.
Bonifacio provided an insurance run in the fifth, leading off with his second homer of the year.
Constanza, in what was likely his final game with the Braves before Bourn arrives, had three hits but a rough day on the basepaths.
In the fifth, he put down a bunt and reached on a throwing error to first. Trying to take a couple of extra bases while the Marlins chased down the loose ball, he was thrown out on a headfirst slide at third.
Then, in the seventh, he made a terrible mental blunder. Constanza led off with a single to left, only to get doubled off on Prado's soft liner to second baseman Infante.
But Constanza was hardly alone. The Braves started the sixth with two straight hits, putting runners at first and third with no outs. Alex Gonzalez popped up — slamming his bat in disgust — and Nolasco struck out J.C. Boscan and pinch-hitter Chipper Jones.
Jones, who hasn't started in nearly a week because of a strained quadriceps, received a big cheer from the crowd when he popped out of the dugout. Those quickly turned to groans when he fanned on three pitches.
(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
