The Atlanta Braves erupted for nine runs between the sixth and seventh innings in a 9-2 win over the Miami Marlins Saturday night. Mike Soroka turned in another spectacular performance on the mound while Ozzie Albies got Atlanta’s offense going in the sixth with a grand slam.
The Braves fell behind early thanks to some shaky defense behind Soroka. Jorge Alfaro led off the second inning by reaching on an error by Dansby Swanson. Jon Berti followed with a grounder to third baseman Josh Donaldson whose throw sailed over Albies’ head at second to put runners at second and third with no one out. Peter O’Brien then brought them both home with a line drive single to center to put the Marlins in front 2-0.
The score would remain 2-0 until the sixth when Atlanta finally broke through. Ronald Acuña Jr. got things started with an infield single. Acuña was originally called out on the play but the Braves challenged and replay overturned the call. Nick Markakis followed with a single to put runners at the corners with no one out.
Miami pulled the infield in and Swanson grounded hard to third baseman Berti who fielded the ball, stumbled and then was able to get Acuña hung up in a run down for the first out. Brian McCann then dumped a 2-2 pitch down the left field line for a double that scored Markakis to make the score 2-1. After an intentional walk to Ender Inciarte to load the bases, Nick Anderson struck out Mike Soroka on an eight-pitch at bat. That set the stage for Ozzie Albies who jumped on a high 1-2 fastball and drove it off the facade in right for a grand slam to put the Braves in front 5-2.
Ozzie Albies hit his third career grand slam tonight, driving a 1-2 pitch off the facing of the second deck in right field.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) May 5, 2025
At 22 years, 117 days, @ozzie became the youngest player with three career grand slams since Seattle’s Alex Rodriguez hit three by the age of 20 in 1996. pic.twitter.com/IyUuXYbg2q
The Braves would add to their lead in the seventh. Acuña led off the inning with a solid single to center giving him four hits in the game. However, he appeared to have aggravated something on the swing or while leaving the box and was checked out by trainers at first before staying in the game. Acuña would later come home to score on a two-run single by McCann that increased the lead to 7-2. Soroka followed with an RBI single to right to make it 8-2. Albies followed with an infield hit that scored McCann to tack on add another run to Atlanta’s lead at 9-2.
Acuña was replaced by Charlie Culberson between innings and there was no immediate update to his status.
Soroka was the story in this one for the Braves as he pitched around some defensive mistakes early, but was still able to turn in a dominant performance. He allowed three hits and two runs, both of which were unearned and struck out six while walking just two. He lowered his ERA to a minuscule 1.14 through four starts.
Grant Dayton worked a scoreless eighth and A.J. Minter struck out the side in the ninth to secure the win.
Acuña broke out of his slump going 4-for-4 at the plate. Albies and McCann finished with two hits each and combined to drive in eight runs.
Trevor Richards held the Braves down early allowing two hits over 4 1/3 scoreless innings for Miami. However, Anderson and Tyler Kinley were tagged for seven hits and nine runs in just two innings.
The series will conclude on Sunday with Atlanta looking for a sweep. Julio Teheran will be on the mound for Atlanta while Miami will counter with right-hander Pablo Lopez.
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