Bullpen, defense preserves Braves 5-4 win over Marlins

ATLANTA (AP) — Austin Riley's two-run double capped a wild first inning and the deep Atlanta bullpen took it from there, allowing just one run over the final six innings to push the Braves a step closer to a third straight NL East title with a 5-4 win over the second-place Miami Marlins on Monday night.

Tyler Matzek (4-3) pitched two hitless innings for the win, and Darren O'Day and Chris Martin each worked a scoreless frame. Will Smith escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth, and Mark Melancon benefited from a brilliant defensive play to claim his 11th save.

Melancon surrendered a leadoff single to Jesus Aguilar, and speedy Monte Harrison took over as a pinch runner. Matt Joyce hit a high chopper near the mound that was fielded by the pitcher, whose only play was to first.

Harrison kept right on running around second, but first baseman Freddie Freeman made a perfect throw to shortstop Dansby Swanson scrambling toward third. Swanson sprawled out to make the tag on Harrison's left hip just before he got a hand on the bag.

The Braves could clinch the division title as soon as Tuesday.

The teams combined for seven runs in the first, which took 45 minutes and 74 pitches to get through.

The Marlins got things rolling against Huascar Ynoa with Starling Marte's one-out single. Marte stole second and came home on Aguilar's single to right-center. Aguilar moved to second on a wild pitch, Joyce walked and Brian Anderson came through with a run-scoring hit. Garrett Cooper made it 3-0 with yet another RBI single.

In the bottom half, the Braves bounced right back against rookie Trevor Rogers (1-2), who created a mess for himself by walking Ronald Acuña Jr. and Freeman to start the inning. After Travis d'Arnaud brought home a run with an infield dribbler down the third-base...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Bullpen-defense-preserves-Braves-5-4-win-over-15585509.php