Philadelphia

Freeman, Acuna Go Deep as Atlanta Braves Top Miami Marlins

What to Know

  • Brian Anderson's two-run homer off Julio Teheran (8-7) in the first gave Miami a lead Wei-Yin Chen (3-8) couldn't hold.
  • After J.T. Realmuto's run-scoring double in the fifth cut Atlanta's lead, Ronald Acuna led off the bottom of the inning with his 10th homer.

Freddie Freeman's tiebreaking home run moved the Atlanta Braves closer to first place — just in time for a little boost from the front office a day before the trade deadline.

Freeman hit a go-ahead homer in the third inning, Ronald Acuna Jr. also went deep and the Braves beat the Miami Marlins 5-3 on Monday night to move a half-game behind first-place Philadelphia in the NL East.

Following the game, the Braves announced they had acquired outfielder Adam Duvall from the Cincinnati Reds for three players who had been with Triple-A Gwinnett: right-handers Lucas Sims and Matt Wisler and outfielder Preston Tucker.

"It's nice to be adding players instead of subtracting like we've done the last few years," Freeman said.

Before adding Duvall, the Braves acquired veteran relievers Brad Brach and Jonny Venters.

With Brach making his Atlanta debut with a scoreless eighth, four relievers combined for four scoreless innings.

"That was really big because they were under some duress," said Braves manager Brian Snitker. "... Anytime you add that depth to your bullpen, it's going to help."

Brian Anderson's two-run homer off Julio Teheran (8-7) in the first gave Miami a lead Wei-Yin Chen (3-8) couldn't hold.

The Braves pulled even in the second when Tyler Flowers walked, moved to third on Johan Camargo's double and scored on Ender Inciarte's fly ball. Camargo scored on Teheran's two-out single up the middle.

Freeman's homer, his 18th, in the third gave Atlanta the lead . Flowers walked and scored from first on another double to left by Camargo.

After J.T. Realmuto's run-scoring double in the fifth cut Atlanta's lead to 4-3, Acuna led off the bottom of the inning with his 10th homer , just over the reach of Magneuris Sierra in center field.

A.J. Minter pitched the ninth for his sixth save in six chances.

Chen's road struggles continued as he allowed five runs in five innings.

Chen has a 10.27 ERA in nine road starts. It's a dramatic contrast to his 2.18 mark in eight home starts. According to figures from Elias Sports Bureau, the 8.09 gap between Chen's home and road ERA was the highest for any pitcher in the majors with five or more home and road starts.

"He just doesn't seem the same on the road," said Marlins manager Don Mattingly. "Again, not sure why."

Teheran needed 98 pitches to pitch five innings. He allowed three runs on four hits and four walks.

Brach, acquired from Baltimore on Sunday in exchange for international bonus pool allotment, made his Atlanta debut by giving up one hit in a scoreless eighth.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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