Miami Marlins hold off Braves to kick off final home series of ’24

Miami, Florida – The Miami Marlins kicked off their final home series of 2024 with a hard-fought 4-3 win over the Atlanta Braves. Valente Bellozo made his 12th start of the season squaring off against veteran Charlie Morton. The right-handed pitcher tossed five and a third innings giving up three runs on seven hits striking out three and surrendering two home runs.

The Fish scored three runs on three hits in the first inning maintaining the lead through a combination of pitching and defense against a determined Braves team that’s on the outside looking in two games out of the final wildcard spot. Offensively Jake Burger and Kyle Stowers were among the standouts going 2-for-3, each recording an RBI. Miami did just enough at the plate to edge out their NL East rivals despite an anemic 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

Miami’s starter Valente Bellozo shares his thoughts on his outing tonight facing a tough #Braves lineup. Bellozo threw 5 1/3 innings, surrendering 3 runs but earned the win. That’s the third straight start in which Bellozo has thrown exactly 5 1/3 innings. @LemonCityLive pic.twitter.com/V2MItKdDuR

— Alex “Milo” Aguirre (@aguirrethecap33) September 21, 2024

The bullpen, meanwhile, shut down the opposing hitters holding Atlanta to two hits after Bellozo’s departure. Clinging to a one-run lead, Miami came up big defensively at the top of the eighth. With a runner on first, Declan Cronin struck out Sean Murphy on the payoff pitch. This was immediately followed by catcher Jhonny Pereda gunning down Ramón Laureano at second base completing the double play. The call at second was upheld following a challenge from the Braves.

With the win, Miami improves to 57-97. In the pre-game ceremony, the Miami Marlins announced the BBWAA award winners. The Baseball Writers Association of America voted on these accolades with Burger winning the MVP award. Cronin won Rookie of the Year while the “Charlie Hough” Good Guy Award went to Jesus Sanchez. Lastly, the “Jeff Conine” Heart and Professionalism Award goes to Xavier Edwards.

After reviewing the call, Otto Lopez did indeed make the tag. The #Marlins REALLY needed this. #MarlinsBeisbol pic.twitter.com/pRWIjCrpW1

— Gabriel Garcia (@Gabewritesports) September 21, 2024

Takeaways

Inconsistent hitting

Burger opened up the scoring sailing a liner over Jorge Soler for the ground-rule RBI double. Kyle Stowers continued the effort hitting an RBI single before the Fish added a third run via a sacrifice fly from Jonah Bride. It wouldn’t be until the fifth that the Marlins scored again. Connor Norby led off the inning with a walk nabbing his third steal of the season. He ultimately scored on a wild pitch. It proved to be one of the key plays of the game.

Norby commits his third steal of the season and then takes advantage of Morton's wild pitch to leg in a run. 4-2 Fish. #MarlinsBeisbol || #MakeItMiami pic.twitter.com/tFVc12pRn8

— Gabriel Garcia (@Gabewritesports) September 21, 2024

Valente Bellozo had a mixed evening

Orlando Arcia launches his 17th HR to LF. Atlanta chips away at Miami's lead. Fish up 3-2 heading into the bottom of the fourth. #MakeItMiami pic.twitter.com/jRRx8sC80G

— Gabriel Garcia (@Gabewritesports) September 21, 2024

The righty’s night was ok. He only had two solid innings (the first and fifth) and was the victim of two long balls. Bellozo started great punching out two on Atlanta’s initial trip to the plate. However, the Braves threatened often. Bellozo got himself out of a jam during the second striking out Orlando Arcia on the payoff pitch stranding runners at the corners. Arcia got payback on him afterward.

Valente found himself in trouble again in the third after getting called for a pitch timer violation on a full count resulting in a walk for Matt Olson to load the bases with one out. Bellozo mitigated the the damage to a sacrifice fly from Jorge Soler, however, the visitors kept it close refusing to go away. Laureano went yard knocking him out of the game. It was far from an overpowering performance.

The bullpen holds strong

Skip Schumaker postgame talking about the #Marlins bullpen performance tonight keeping the #Braves offense in check in the late innings. Miami’s bullpen tossed 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief securing Bellozo’s third win of the season. @LemonCityLive #HomeofBeisbol pic.twitter.com/e04uAnD8PS

— Alex “Milo” Aguirre (@aguirrethecap33) September 21, 2024

Thanks to the combined efforts of Anthony Bender, Lake Bachar, and Declan Cronin Atlanta’s bats were stifled, held to just two hits. This set up Jesus Tinoco to gather his second save although Arcia came close to tying it in the ninth. Overall the pitching bent but didn’t break.