Josh Johnson kept the Atlanta Braves hitless into the eighth inning. He wasn't just flirting with a no-hitter; he was whispering into its ear, sending it dirty text messages, and cooking it dinner. Ultimately things didn't work out, and the no-hitter just wanted to be friends. (This metaphor didn't work out quite as I planned.)
Marlins Vs. Braves: Josh Johnson Flirts With No-Hitter, Settles For Dominant Win
Johnson threw 7.1 innings of one-hit baseball against the Braves, and the Florida Marlins cruised to a 5-1 win in the second game of the series.
The Marlins got on the board in a hurry, plating one in the first, three in the second, and one in the third against Braves starter Tim Hudson. Logan Morrison hit a home run - his third of the season - and Johnson himself hit an RBI single.
From there, all the focus shifted to Johnson's work on the mound. While a first-inning walk ruined any shot at a perfect game, he kept the Braves from squaring the ball up, and took his no-hit bid into the eighth after closing the seventh with consecutive strikeouts of Dan Uggla and Jason Heyward.
But Johnson's pitch count was elevated, and after Alex Gonzalez grounded out to lead off the bottom of the eighth, Freddie Freeman followed with a soft line drive over third baseman Greg Dobbs' head for the Braves' first hit. Johnson was then lifted from the game, having thrown 109 pitches and striking out nine.
The Marlins' bullpen held the fort the rest of the way, although Chipper Jones hit a solo homer in the ninth to finally get the Braves on the board. But this game was all about Johnson, who just missed becoming the fifth Marlin to throw a no-hitter. The last was Anibal Sanchez in 2006.
The series wraps up on Thursday, with Ricky Nolasco opposing Brandon Beachy.
For more on the Marlins and Braves, please visit team blogs Fish Stripes and Talking Chop.
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