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Ronald Acuna Jr. doubled, walked twice and scored three times in his return and the Atlanta Braves beat the Miami Marlins 8-4 on Tuesday.
It was Acuña’s first game since missing May 2 due to left hamstring strain. He started the game as the designated hitter.
Mauricio Dubon had three hits, including an RBI single in the eighth inning. Matt Olson walked twice, had two hits and drove in three runs, while Michael Harris II homered and singled for the NL East-leading Braves.
Dubón hit a two-out single to give Atlanta a 5-4 lead after Marlins reliever Calvin Faucher (4-3) walked Mike Yastrzemski, Ha-Seong Kim and Acuña to load the bases. Olson followed with a two-run single to make it 7-4.
Kim added an RBI single in the ninth.
Dylan Lee (2-0) threw 1 1/3 relief for the win.
Braves starter Martin Perez allowed four runs and five hits and had a career-high 10 in five innings.
Harris’ first drive in the sixth tied the game at 4-4. He drove Marlins reliever Andrew Nardi’s first pitch over the wall in center for his ninth homer of the season.
Miami erased a 2-0 first inning deficit with three runs in the bottom half. Xavier Edwards homered and Kyle Stowers added a two-run double.
Esteury Ruiz’s sacrifice fly in the third made it 4-2 before Olson’s RBI double in the fifth cut the lead.
Ozzie Albies’ sacrifice fly and Harris’ RBI single against Marlins starter Braxton Garrett gave Atlanta the lead.
Garrett allowed two runs and three hits in three innings. It was Garrett’s second outing after missing last season due to elbow surgery.
To be continued
LHP Chris Sale (6-3, 1.96 ERA) will start for the Braves on Wednesday against Marlins RHP Janson Junk (2-4, 4.14).
Associated Press reporting
