Smith gives up two 2-run HRs
Offense struggles as Miami drops fifth straight
ATLANTA Adeiny Hechavarria and Ronald Acuna Jr. each hit a two-run homer, Julio Teheran struck out a season-high nine and the Atlanta Braves beat Miami 5-0 on Wednesday night to continue their mastery of the Marlins.
The Braves are 14-4 against Miami this year after winning the 2018 season series between the NL East rivals 14-5.
Teheran (8-8) combined with Sean Newcomb and Josh Tomlin for a seven-hit shutout. The right-hander allowed five hits in seven innings.
Teheran improved to 3-0 against Miami this season and rebounded nicely from the shortest start of his career. He lasted only 1 1⁄3 innings while allowing six runs in a loss to the New York Mets last Thursday.
Acuna’s shot off Caleb Smith (8-7) in the fifth cleared the center field wall. His team-leading 36th homer came one night after he was hit by Elieser Hernandez’s first pitch, leading to the ejection of Braves manager Brian Snitker.
The first-place Braves, who had no singles or doubles among their three hits, have won four straight. The last-place Marlins have dropped five in a row.
Tyler Flowers and Hechavarria provided power from the bottom of the Braves’ lineup in the second. Flowers’ triple over right fielder Brian Anderson drove in Josh Donaldson, who walked. Marlins rookie second baseman Isan Diaz dropped the relay throw from Anderson, robbing Miami of a possible play on Flowers at third base.
Hechavarria followed with a homer into the left field seats for a 3-0 lead. It was his sixth homer and his first since signing with Atlanta on Friday following his release from the Mets.
The Marlins allowed a home run for the 22nd consecutive game, extending their team record.
Smith permitted five runs on only three hits and four walks in six innings.
Smith led off the third with a double to left field for his first career extra-base hit. He then doubled down the right field line with one out in the fifth. Teheran has allowed 12 hits to pitchers this season, most in the majors.
Acuna is still looking for the stolen base he needs to reach 30-30 status. He has 29 steals and was picked off by Smith while trying to swipe second base in the third inning.
TRAINER’S ROOM: Marlins: RHP Pablo Lopez (right shoulder strain) allowed two runs, one earned, in six innings for Triple-A New Orleans against Omaha as he moved closer to a return to the rotation. He gave up eight hits and no walks. Braves: C Brian McCann was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left knee strain. Snitker said McCann “feels a little better than he thought he might, so that’s encouraging.” C Alex Jackson was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett. SS Dansby Swanson (foot) will start a rehab assignment with Class A Rome on Thursday with a plan to be the DH in his first game, play seven innings in the field his next game and then play a full nine innings. OF Austin Riley (knee) begins his rehab assignment with Rome on Friday.
UP NEXT: RHP Mike Soroka (10-2, 2.41 ERA) will try to protect his perfect record against Miami when the Braves and Marlins complete the three-game series Thursday night. Soroka is 2-0 with a 0.68 ERA in four career starts against the Marlins. RHP Sandy Alcantara (4-11, 4.35) is scheduled to start for Miami.
Charles Odum is a writer for the Associated Press.