JON BERTI

Marlins starter Pablo López was ejected after plunking Ronald Acuña Jr. with his first pitch, leading to the only run as the Atlanta Braves edged Miami 1-0.

The Phillies lost for the fifth time in 22 games this year when leading after seven innings.

Miami has now won two straight games after starting the season 1-6.

The Braves have pitched three shutouts in four games during this year’s playoffs. Travis d’Arnaud and Dansby Swanson each homered for the second straight day, putting the Braves one win away from a sweep in the best-of-five matchup. “It’s hard to bunch hits together, pitching is too good,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. On a day when Atlanta got only four hits, Swanson and d’Arnaud provided the offense. Swanson’s homer off Pablo Lopez put the Braves up 1-0 with two outs in the second inning.

Atlanta Braves' Ian Anderson delivers a pitch during the fourth inning in Game 2 of a baseball National League Division Series against the Miami Marlins Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020, in Houston. Anderson blanked Miami into the sixth inning, Markakis made a nifty play in right field to help preserve the lead late, and the Braves threw another playoff shutout in a 2-0 victory Wednesday for a 2-0 lead in the NL Division Series. “It’s hard to bunch hits together, pitching is too good,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. Miami manager Don Mattingly didn't fault Dickerson for being thrown out because he said Markakis could've dived to catch it. On a day when Atlanta got only four hits, Swanson and d’Arnaud provided the offense.

Now Mattingly is enjoying perhaps his best year as a manager, and his surprising Miami Marlins could be playoff-bound for the first time since 2003. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)MIAMI – Don Mattingly returns this weekend to Yankee Stadium, where his best years as a player always ended when the regular season did. But the Marlins still control their own destiny, and will head to New York for a three-game series hoping to clinch their first postseason berth since 2003. In Miami, Mattingly quickly embraced Jeter's rebuilding plan, which required short-term pain while a moribund farm system was fortified. He knows how hard it is.”It's so hard that even at Yankee Stadium, celebrating a playoff berth is something special.

(AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)ATLANTA Adam Duvall drove in nine runs with three homers, including a grand slam, and the Atlanta Braves obliterated their franchise scoring record in a 29-9 romp over the Miami Marlins on Wednesday night. The Braves had 23 hits, including seven homers, to score the most runs in their history in Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta. The old Atlanta record was 20 runs, most recently against the Marlins on Oct. 5, 2001. Freeman hit second, d'Arnaud hit fourth and Albies hit eighth. Marlins second baseman Isan Daz was optioned to the teams alternate training site in Jupiter, Florida.

Miami Marlins' Starling Marte celebrates as he rounds first base after hitting a home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)MIAMI Starling Marte celebrated his Miami debut with a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning, helping the Marlins top the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 on Tuesday night. He learned of his trade to the Blue Jays during Miamis game at New York on Monday afternoon. TRAINERS ROOMBlue Jays: SS Bo Bichette (sprained right knee) took ground balls, hit in the cage and ran sprints. UP NEXTBlue Jays: LHP Hyun Jin Ryu (2-1, 2.97 ERA) will face the Marlins in the series finale Wednesday.

Miami Marlins players Lewis Brinson (25) Magneuris Sierra, center, and Jon Berti celebrate after the Marlins beat the Atlanta Braves 8-2 in a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)MIAMI Jesus Aguilar drove in three runs, Jon Berti stole home and the NL East-leading Miami Marlins won their long-awaited, coronavirus-delayed home opener, beating the Atlanta Braves 8-2 Friday night. Miami returned to Marlins Park following a 23-day road trip, interrupted when 18 players and two coaches tested positive for the virus. The Braves will be without All-Star center fielder Ronald Acua Jr. in the series while he recovers from a sore left wrist. Marlins: LHP Daniel Castano (0-1, 8.31) will make his second major league start Saturday.

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Elieser Hernandez throws a pitch to the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning in game one of a baseball double-header, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)BALTIMORE Five pitchers combined on a four-hitter for Don Mattingly's undermanned, gritty and first-place Miami Marlins, who beat the Baltimore Orioles 2-1 Wednesday night for a doubleheader sweep. The sweep kept the Marlins atop the NL East and earned Mattingly his 281st win as Miami's manager, tying Jack McKeon's club record. Not only were both games seven innings apiece, but the Orioles were the home team in the opener and the Marlins served as hosts in the nightcap. Orioles: Wade LeBlanc (1-0) makes his third start of the season after turning in a solid performance against Tampa Bay on Saturday.

Jorge Alfaro of the Miami Marlins runs out his second inning home run against the New York Mets at Citi Field on September 23, 2019 in New York City. NEW YORK - Steven Matz allowed two homers to Jorge Alfaro, including a grand slam, and the New York Mets lost to the Miami Marlins 8-4 Monday night to dim their fading postseason hopes. Amed Rosario cut into Miami's big lead with his own slam, but the Mets dropped five games behind idle Milwaukee for the final NL playoff spot with six games remaining. They also trail Washington by 5 1/2 games for the top wild card after the Nationals beat Philadelphia 7-2. The Mets left 11 runners on base and ended an eight-game winning streak against Miami at Citi Field dating to last season.

Jon Berti of the Miami Marlins turns a double play against the Washington Nationals at Marlins Park on September 22, 2019. MIAMI - Three relievers each gave up an extra-base hit in a seventh-inning meltdown Sunday, and the Washington Nationals' streak of 11 consecutive wins against the Miami Marlins ended with a 5-3 loss that tightened the NL wildcard race. The Nationals started the game with three consecutive singles to take a 1-0 lead, but a nifty 3-6-1 double play helped Lopez escape further damage. Victor Robles hit into an apparent inning-ending double play, but the Nationals' challenge of the forceout at second was upheld. Marlins: They have seven games left, all on the road, and start a four-game series Monday at the Mets with LHP Caleb Smith (9-10, 4.24) scheduled to start.

The Marlins will meet the Mets for a three-game series in Puerto Rico next April. MIAMI - The Miami Marlins will host the New York Mets in a three-game series in Puerto Rico next season. "It is an honor for the Marlins to represent Major League Baseball in this special series against the Mets," Marlins owner Derek Jeter said. "Miami serves as the gateway to the Caribbean and Latin America, and we are grateful for the chance to showcase the new Miami Marlins organization to our neighbors in Puerto Rico." Both teams played a three-game series in Puerto Rico in 2010.

(Photo by JulioST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Eric Sogard homered twice and finished with a career-high five RBIs, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Miami Marlins 8-6 on Saturday night. Willy Adames and Austin Meadows also connected as Tampa Bay won for the seventh time in eight games. The Rays went ahead to stay on Adames' leadoff drive against Jarlin Garcia (2-1) in the eighth. Travis d'Arnaud, who has 26 RBIs since July 1, made it 8-6 with a run-scoring single later in the inning. UP NEXTMarlins left-hander Caleb Smith (7-4) and Rays right-hander Yonny Chirinos (8-5) are Sunday's scheduled starters.