Nicolino, Bour lead Marlins to 7-1 win over hapless Braves

Miami Marlins first baseman Justin Bour (48) follows through on a three-run home run in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2015, in Atlanta.
Miami Marlins first baseman Justin Bour (48) follows through on a three-run home run in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2015, in Atlanta.

ATLANTA -- Justin Nicolino pitched seven scoreless innings, Justin Bour hit a three-run homer, and the Miami Marlins beat the hapless Atlanta Braves again, winning 7-1 Tuesday night.

Nicolino (3-2) shut down the Braves with help from a pair of double plays. Atlanta lost for the 14th time in 15 games, including the last seven in a row, but at least avoided its second straight shutout when A.J. Pierzynski drove in a run with a two-out single in the eighth off Erik Cordier.

The Braves have been outscored 110-40 during their most recent skid. Manny Banuelos (1-3) got his first start in more than a month coming off the disabled list. He lasted 2 2/3 innings, giving up six hits and three runs.

Hector Olivera made his major league debut for the Braves. The touted Cuban defector went 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Bour came up with a big defensive play and sealed the victory with a towering drive off Ryan Kelly into the Braves' bullpen, capping a four-run seventh that pushed the Marlins to a 7-0 lead. It was the first baseman's 15th homer of the season.

Nicolino allowed six hits, walked two and struck out three. The Braves squandered a couple of chances to break through.

In the first, Atlanta put runners at first and third before Nick Swisher grounded into an inning-ending double play. The Braves loaded the bases with no outs in the third, only to get burned by Nick Markakis' base-running blunder. He broke for second on a liner down the line, which was snared by a diving Bour. He hopped up and raced to the bag before Markakis had any chance of getting back. Freddie Freeman ended the threat with a groundout.

Upcoming Events