MIAMI – The Atlanta Braves are wearing the rings. They’ve yet to break out the brooms.
Back-to-back wins against the Miami Marlins assured the reigning World Series champions of their third series victory of the season – and let them leapfrog their rivals in the National Least East Division standings – but the Braves were unable to complete a series sweep Sunday, losing 4-3.
Through 13 series this year – which includes four-game sets against the Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets and San Diego Padres, as well as a two-game visit from the Boston Red Sox – Atlanta has yet to produce a sweep. The Braves (19-22) have spent most of the season under .500 but have avoided streaks and skids; they’ve yet to win or lose more than two in a row, with Sunday’s game their fifth swing and miss at three straight victories.
Now they’re headed into a seven-game homestand, with four against the Philadelphia Phillies, starting Monday, and three against the Marlins. The Phillies (19-22) and four-time reigning division champ Atlanta are tied for second in the NL East, eight games behind the New York Mets.
On Sunday, Miami’s Sandy Alcantara (4-2) limited the Braves to three unearned runs and six hits. The 26-year-old walked two batters and struck out seven in the fourth complete game of his MLB career.