MIAMI – Nick Markakis drove in three runs, and five pitchers combined on a two-hitter Sunday afternoon to help the Atlanta Braves beat the Miami Marlins 4-0 and tighten the National League East Division race.
Atlanta took two of three games from first-place Miami and trails by only percentage points in the standings. The Braves haven’t lost a series to the Marlins since 2017 and are 31-10 against them the past three seasons.
“Our mindset is the same with everybody,” Markakis said. “It doesn’t matter who we’re playing. But division games are extremely important.”
Markakis had two hits and improved his average to .323. The 36-year-old outfielder originally opted out of Major League Baseball’s shortened season because of coronavirus concerns, then changed his mind after the Braves had played five games
“Just having him here makes me feel better and more at ease,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “He’ll do anything. He’s just good to have around. He’s kind of like my security blanket.”