MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Marlins prevented Alex Wood from winning a second straight start against them. However, they couldn’t stop Evan Gattis from beating them again with a home run.
Gattis hit a tiebreaking homer in the top of the 10th that was originally ruled a triple to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 4-3 victory over the Marlins on Saturday night.
Gattis drove the first pitch from Bryan Morris (7-1) to the top of the wall in center. Gattis motored into third with a triple when the ball was originally ruled in play, but a replay review showed it hit the wall above a yellow line for his 22nd homer.
“Gattis has beaten us a couple of times at least this year,” Marlins manager Mike Redmond said of the Braves’ catcher, who also homered in Atlanta’s 1-0 win against Miami in Wood’s last start on Aug. 31.
“It was one of those things — weird,” Gattis said. “I saw it kick off and he didn’t have the ball so I had to get to third.”
Wood again frustrated the Marlins following his 12 strikeout, eight shutout inning performance against Miami. On Saturday, he scattered six hits, struck out five and walked in seven innings and left with a two-run lead.
However, Casey McGehee’s single off Jordan Walden tied it in the eighth. Christian Yelich started the rally with a leadoff walk against Wood, and then Walden walked Donovan Solano to put two runners on.
“Offensively, we were pretty quiet,” Redmond said. “Wood again kept us in check.
“But we climbed back in the game and tied it up. We had a couple of opportunities to punch a run across and just couldn’t do it.”
David Carpenter (6-3) pitched 1 2-3 innings for the win and Craig Kimbrel finished for his 43rd save in 47 opportunities.
“We want to carry it over,” Gattis said. “We have a quick turnaround but we want to feed off of this and get a win (Sunday).”
Wood was not disappointed at being removed after walking Yelich.
“All I care is us winning,” Wood said. “Gattis got a big knock in extra innings and the rest is history.
“I made pitches when I had to and they swung at a few balls out of the zone.”
Gonzalez planned to pitch Wood another inning but the walk to Yelich changed his thinking
“I was going to let him go hitter to hitter,” Gonzalez said. “I felt comfortable enough that he was able to handle Solano all night. If he would have gotten Yelich, I would have let him face Solano. If he would have gotten Solano I would have let him face Stanton.”
Nathan Eovaldi struck out seven in 6 1-3 innings for Miami. He allowed three runs and eight hits with one walk.
Jeff Baker hit an RBI single in the fourth, trimming Atlanta’s lead to 3-1 and stopping Wood’s scoreless streak at 14 innings.
MATCHUP FACTOR
3B Phil Gosselin replaced Chris Johnson in the Braves’ lineup. Johnson is a 0 for 12 for his career against Eovaldi.
KEEPING THE WALKS DOWN:
Eovaldi had his 21st outing with one walk or less. He is tied with Washington’s Jordan Zimmermmann for second in the NL behind New York’s Bartolo Colon (23).
UP NEXT
Braves RHP Julio Teheran (13-10, 2.90 ERA) will start the series finale against Marlins LHP Brad Hand (2-6, 4.79 ERA). In Teheran’s previous start on Monday, the Braves were no-hit by Phillies LHP Cole Hamels and three relievers.
TRAINER’S ROOM:
Marlins: After two days of light tossing, RHP Henderson Alvarez will throw in the bullpen Sunday and the results could determine if he will return to the rotation. Alvarez left his previous start against the Mets on Monday because of a left oblique strain. Alvarez lasted 2 1-3 innings and allowed four runs and three hits.
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