Fresh off a sweep of the Cubs at the end of last week, Atlanta headed to Miami on Monday looking to avoid a letdown. Mission accomplished. Behind some fantastic starting pitching, Atlanta swept away the hapless Marlins, allowing the Fish to score only two runs in three games.
Game 1 was the Paul Maholm and Justin Upton show. Maholm threw 7 innings of one-hit baseball, walking three and striking out seven in the process. On the offensive side, Justin Upton provided all the punch the Braves would need, scoring both Atlanta runs. Upton doubled to lead off the fourth and scored on a groundout two batters later, making it 1-0. In the 6th, Upton smashed his league-leading 6th home run of the year, giving the Braves their final 2-0 margin of victory. It was Maholm's second win in as many turns.
Game 2 saw Kris Medlen almost match Maholm's success. Medlen only allowed one run on three hits through 7 innings, but it was unearned. He walked two and struck out one. Evan Gattis provided the fireworks for Atlanta, smashing a two run home run in the first inning. An eigth inning Justin Upton RBI double (that would've been a home run in almost any other park) gave the Braves their third and final run. Atlanta won 3-2, their 5th in a row.
Game 3 is one Braves fans will be talking about for a while, as Evan Gattis and Juan Francisco both showed off prodigious power. Gattis lined a 3 run home run into the pool in the Atlantic Club bar in left field to give the Braves a cushion in the 6th inning. Juan Francisco showed him up two batters later with a monstrous shot off the facade in dead center field. ESPN said Fat Juan's shot was the 5th longest of the year so far. Mike Minor tossed 5.2 innings of scoreless ball, and the Braves notched their second shut out of the series.
Atlanta has an off day today before heading north to Washington for a three game series with the Nationals.
Braves' Outstanding Performers
- Paul Maholm: 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 K, W(2-0)
- Kris Medlen: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, W(1-1)
- Mike Minor: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K, W(2-0)
- Justin Upton: 5-12, HR(6), 2 RBI, 2 R
- Andrelton Simmons: 4-12, 3 R, 2 RBI
- Evan Gattis: 5-12, 2 HR(2,3), 5 RBI, 2 R
- Juan Francisco: 5-12, HR(1), 2 RBI
- Chris Johnson: 5-13, RBI