Marlins fall to Braves, lose sixth game in a row
It’s becoming a broken record — a broken record with a scratchy needle. The Marlins lost yet again Saturday night, their sixth defeat in a row, in a 7-2 setback to the Braves.
Depending on the outcome of Philadelphia’s game later on the West Coast, the Marlins could wake up Sunday in sole possession of last place in the National League East, and with the worst record in the majors.
The Marlins have lost 13 of their past 15 games and are 5-17 since the All-Star break, with no reason to think they will turn it around anytime soon, not with how poorly they are performing in every phase of the game.
They head into Sunday with a chance at being swept in the four-game series by a Braves team that is rebuilding, though you wouldn’t know it by the way they’ve owned the Marlins this season, winning 10 of their 12 meetings so far.
The Marlins, meanwhile, continue to sink. On Saturday, Tom Koehler became the first Marlins starter in seven games to go at least six innings, giving the weary bullpen a bit of a break. But it wasn’t an easy night for Koehler, who gave up three runs on seven hits and three walks.
Cole Gillespie drove in both of the Marlins’ runs with a second-inning double and third-inning infield hit. The rest of the lineup did little against Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz.
The top third of the order — Dee Gordon, Martin Prado and Christian Yelich — combined to go 1 for 13.
The Marlins trailed 3-2 before coming fully unhinged when the Braves put it away with four runs in the seventh and eighth innings off relievers Mike Dunn and Brian Ellington.
this and that
▪ Outfielder Marcell Ozuna was taken out in the fourth inning of his game Saturday at Triple A New Orleans. He sprained his left wrist while sliding, further delaying his return to the Marlins. By leaving Ozuna in the minors for so long, the Marlins have likely pushed back his first year of salary arbitration-eligibility to 2017. Ozuna was optioned to the minors on July 5. He has hit .303 with five home runs for the Zephyrs.
▪ Gordon didn’t want to risk sustaining another dislocated thumb like he did the last time he slid into first base. That’s why he went feet-first to beat out an infield single on Friday. “Ad lib,” Gordon said of the unconventional slide. “It’s what I had to do. That’s the first time I’ve ever tried it.”
▪ Reliever Carter Capps, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a right elbow strain, has been cleared to resume throwing.
COMING UP
▪ Sunday: Marlins LHP Brad Hand (1-2, 4.71 ERA) at Atlanta Braves RHP Shelby Miller (5-8, 2.44), 5:05 p.m., Turner Field.
▪ Monday: Off day.
This story was originally published August 8, 2015 at 10:46 PM with the headline "Marlins fall to Braves, lose sixth game in a row."