Marlins Drop Third Straight as Braves Take Series

The Miami Marlins continued to struggle and fell to the Atlanta Braves by a final score of 6-4 on Saturday.

The loss was Miami's third in a row and it clinched a series win for Atlanta. The Braves had entered Miami with an 0-9 record and were the only National League team without a win. In two days, they have erased that and are not only two games behind the Marlins.

Once again, the Marlins got on base and then had trouble cashing in runs. Mami was 1-6 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base. Timely hitting has been a problem for the Marlins this season and in the past as well.

The Marlins left the building twice with Adeiny Hechavarria and Justin Bour each homering for the first time this season. Bour had himself a two-hit day and also scored twice.

Without those timely hits, Miami needs superb pitching and it didn't get it in this one. Tom Koehler only lasted 3.2 innings and he allowed nine hits. The right-hander gave up six runs and is now 0-2 with a 6.30 E.R.A this season.

Miami's bullpen did a solid job of giving the team a chance to come back with 5.1 combined scoreless innings. Chris Narveson, Craig Breslow and Dustin McGowan all saw time on the mound in this one.

For Narveson, this outing was an important one. The veteran had struggled mightily this year and in Friday's game as well. Narveson's 2.1 innings of perfect relief will likely afford him more opportunities going forward.