MIAMI — The Atlanta Braves entered the weekend riding high on their hottest stretch in a month.
Somehow, they wound up cooling down in Miami.
Kyle Stowers ended a 31-game home run drought, Sandy Alcántara pitched six strong innings, and the Miami Marlins beat the Atlanta Braves 5-3 on Sunday in the rubber game of a three-game series between National League East Division teams at LoanDepot Park. The Marlins bounced back from Saturday’s 7-0 loss, which came after they won Friday’s opener 6-2.
Otto López had two hits and drove in two runs, and Xavier Edwards singled twice, doubled and had an RBI for the Marlins, who entered Sunday last in the NL East and 15 games out of first place. Miami improved to 31-45 with the series-clinching win.
Atlanta, third in the division, dropped to 35-41 and was unable to secure what would have been its fourth consecutive series win. The Braves began the day 10 games behind the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies, who were tied for the division lead. Atlanta swept a three-game series against the visiting Mets last week at Truist Park and begins a four-game series at New York on Monday night.