MIAMI — For six years running, the Atlanta Braves haven’t been anything but champions in the National League East.
They also hadn’t been swept in a three-game series with the Miami Marlins since 2015, but that streak came to a crashing halt over the weekend.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a grand slam for the second consecutive game, and Jake Burger, Nick Fortes and Jorge Soler also homered as the Marlins routed Atlanta 16-2 on Sunday. The Braves wrapped up the NL East title with a road win against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday and were off Thursday before heading to Miami, where they lost 9-6 on Friday and 11-5 on Saturday.
Luis Arraez had three hits for the Marlins, who began the day a half-game out of the third and final NL wild-card spot in the playoffs and improved to 78-72 with Sunday’s victory. Atlanta (96-53) still has the best record in Major League Baseball as it battles for home-field advantage in the postseason.
“Our team is here to fight,” Chisholm said. “I don’t care about the team we go up against because I know my team is going to go out there and battle every single pitch. I felt every pitch today, everybody was ready.”