ATLANTA — Atlanta scored all its runs on two-out singles and the Braves used seven pitchers to beat the Florida Marlins 4-3 on Tuesday night.
It was the Braves’ third straight win and fourth in five games. Despite trimming four games off New York’s lead in the NL East over the last five days, Atlanta is still in third place in the division, 51⁄2 games behind the Mets with 11 games remaining.
Rafael Soriano pitched the ninth for his seventh save in 10 chances as the Marlins lost their third straight.
Jeff Francoeur, Edgar Renteria, Yunel Escobar and Brian McCann had the run-scoring singles for the Braves. Francoeur’s came in the first, Renteria’s in the second and Escobar’s in the fourth. McCann’s single in the fifth gave the Braves a 4-1 lead and chased rookie Chris Seddon (0-1).
Making his second career start and facing Atlanta for the first time, Seddon allowed nine hits, four runs — three earned — with one walk and one strikeout in 4 2-3 innings.
Logan Kensing, who relieved Seddon, escaped a bases-loaded jam in the sixth, striking out Mark Teixeira and getting Francoeur to ground out.
The Marlins cut the lead to 4-3 in the seventh on Miguel Cabrera’s two-run single.
Braves center fielder Andruw Jones saved a potential tying run in the eighth. Running to his left and then making diving catch of Hanley Ramirez’s liner for the third out, stranding Cody Ross, who easily would have scored from second.
Manny Acosta, the third of four Atlanta relievers to pitch in the seventh, gave up Cabrera’s hit, leaving after he walked Josh Willingham to load the bases with two outs.
Atlanta manager Bobby Cox brought in Ron Mahay, who needed just two pitches to retire Mike Jacobs on a groundout and escape the jam.
Tyler Yates began the seventh and recorded both outs, but he was charged with both runs.
Rookie Jo-Jo Reyes (1-2) earned his first career victory after allowing three hits, one run and three walks in five innings. The left-hander struck out seven.
Peter Moylan pitched a scoreless sixth thanks to a 6-4-3 double play that stranded Cabrera at third.
Notes: McCann became the fourth Atlanta regular to get 90 RBIs with the Braves, joining Francoeur (101), Chipper Jones (93) and Andruw Jones (91). Teixeira has 92 RBIs, 45 with Texas. ... Atlanta improved to 59-32 against the Marlins at Turner Field. ... Batting for the first time since July 4, 2004, Mahay popped out to end the seventh.
It was the Braves’ third straight win and fourth in five games. Despite trimming four games off New York’s lead in the NL East over the last five days, Atlanta is still in third place in the division, 51⁄2 games behind the Mets with 11 games remaining.
Rafael Soriano pitched the ninth for his seventh save in 10 chances as the Marlins lost their third straight.
Jeff Francoeur, Edgar Renteria, Yunel Escobar and Brian McCann had the run-scoring singles for the Braves. Francoeur’s came in the first, Renteria’s in the second and Escobar’s in the fourth. McCann’s single in the fifth gave the Braves a 4-1 lead and chased rookie Chris Seddon (0-1).
Making his second career start and facing Atlanta for the first time, Seddon allowed nine hits, four runs — three earned — with one walk and one strikeout in 4 2-3 innings.
Logan Kensing, who relieved Seddon, escaped a bases-loaded jam in the sixth, striking out Mark Teixeira and getting Francoeur to ground out.
The Marlins cut the lead to 4-3 in the seventh on Miguel Cabrera’s two-run single.
Braves center fielder Andruw Jones saved a potential tying run in the eighth. Running to his left and then making diving catch of Hanley Ramirez’s liner for the third out, stranding Cody Ross, who easily would have scored from second.
Manny Acosta, the third of four Atlanta relievers to pitch in the seventh, gave up Cabrera’s hit, leaving after he walked Josh Willingham to load the bases with two outs.
Atlanta manager Bobby Cox brought in Ron Mahay, who needed just two pitches to retire Mike Jacobs on a groundout and escape the jam.
Tyler Yates began the seventh and recorded both outs, but he was charged with both runs.
Rookie Jo-Jo Reyes (1-2) earned his first career victory after allowing three hits, one run and three walks in five innings. The left-hander struck out seven.
Peter Moylan pitched a scoreless sixth thanks to a 6-4-3 double play that stranded Cabrera at third.
Notes: McCann became the fourth Atlanta regular to get 90 RBIs with the Braves, joining Francoeur (101), Chipper Jones (93) and Andruw Jones (91). Teixeira has 92 RBIs, 45 with Texas. ... Atlanta improved to 59-32 against the Marlins at Turner Field. ... Batting for the first time since July 4, 2004, Mahay popped out to end the seventh.
