MIAMI — The Atlanta Braves (13-2) suffered just their second loss of the season on Saturday, falling 5-3 to the Miami Marlins (9-6) at LoanDepot Park. A pitching duel through five innings gave way to a dramatic back-and-forth contest in the late frames, with Miami coming out on top.
Bryce Elder kept the Braves in the game early, tossing 5.1 strong innings and allowing just one earned run. Elder’s performance was aided by challenging hitting conditions caused by shadows on the field, keeping the Marlins at bay. However, Atlanta’s offense was similarly stifled, as they were no-hit until the sixth inning.
With two outs in the sixth, Orlando Arcia broke the drought with a sharp single down the left-field line. Ronald Acuña Jr. followed with his seventh home run of the season, a towering shot to dead center field that gave Atlanta a 2-0 lead and briefly swung the momentum.
The Marlins responded quickly. Jake Burger delivered a two-run double off Tyler Matzek in the seventh, putting Miami ahead 3-2. Orlando Arcia continued his solid game with an RBI double in the eighth, tying the game at 3-3, but Miami’s Josh Bell delivered the decisive blow in the bottom of the inning. Bell, who finished the day a perfect 4-for-4, launched a two-run homer off A.J. Minter to left-center, giving the Marlins a 5-3 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
The Braves struggled mightily at the plate, striking out 16 times while managing just five hits. Conversely, the Marlins struck out only three times, capitalizing on key opportunities to pull out the victory.
The Braves will aim to bounce back in Sunday’s rubber match at 1:40 p.m. ET. Spencer Strider (0-0, 1.47 ERA) takes the mound for Atlanta against Miami’s Jesús Luzardo (1-1, 4.61 ERA).
Atlanta will look to avoid its first series loss of the season, while Miami eyes a chance to build on Saturday’s momentum.