Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Brooks Conrad's three-run home run capped a four-run third inning that carried Atlanta to a 5-1 triumph over Florida to complete a three-game sweep.
Braves And Derek Lowe Try To Continue Run For NL Wild Card
Derek Lowe (16-12) earned the win after allowing the visitors' lone run on seven hits while striking out nine and walking only one over 5 2/3 innings on three days rest for the Braves, who improved to a major league-best 55-23 at home.
Atlanta leads the wild card race by two games over San Diego, which plays later Wednesday night at home against the Chicago Cubs. The Braves' magic number to reach the postseason now stands at three.
Andrew Miller (1-5) took the loss after allowing four runs on four hits and four walks while striking out two over three innings for the Marlins, who have dropped four in a row and six of their last seven.
The Braves put runners at the corners with one out in the second before Lowe's sacrifice bunt moved Melky Cabrera to second base. However, Omar Infante popped up to shallow right field to end the inning.
The hosts then broke through to score four times with two outs in the decisive third.
Matt Diaz and Derrek Lee walked with one out before Alex Gonzalez flied out. David Ross then doubled off the wall in left to drive in Diaz and send Lee to third. Conrad then followed with his three-run blast to left, his first long ball this season before the seventh inning.
Peter Moylan took over and struck out Brad Davis to end the frame, then set down pinch-hitter Osvaldo Martinez to open the seventh and gave way to Mike Dunn.
Atlanta loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth against Will Ohman, who was then removed in favor of Steve Cishek.
The young right-hander, in just his second big league outing, walked Eric Hinske to force in a run before Gonzalez fanned to end the inning.
Craig Kimbrel tossed a scoreless eighth inning and Billy Wagner a shutout ninth to close out the win for the Braves, who will entertain NL East winner Philadelphia over the season's final weekend.
The Braves won the season series, 11-7 and went 7-2 at Turner Field...Lowe has won his last five starts since a August 29 no-decision against Florida, and has allowed four earned runs over 30 2/3 innings...Lowe made his 600th career appearance, 322 coming as a starter...The last time the Braves won 55 home games in a season was 2003...Ross had his 10th career three-hit game and his first game with three doubles...Jason Heyward went 0-for-3 but walked twice and has reached base in 32 of his last 33 games (hit or walk)...Florida finished its road schedule 39-42...Miller suffered his first career loss to the Braves in eight games, five as a starter...Stanton extended his hitting streak to seven games, during which he has 11 hits...On this date in 1982, Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez picked up his first major league hit as a member of the Yankees off Cleveland hurler Lary Sorensen.
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