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ATLANTA -- Mike Foltynewicz struck out a career-high 11 batters and Freddie Freeman drove in four runs as the Atlanta Braves defeated the Miami Marlins 7-2 on Saturday at SunTrust Park. Foltynewicz (10-6) pitched 6 1/3 innings and allowed one run on four hits. He has won eight of his last nine decisions and has not lost a start at home since May 5.
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The Atlanta offense again showed some late-inning life. The Braves scored twice in the sixth inning and five times in the seventh. Atlanta has scored 192 runs in the seventh inning or later, the third-most in the major leagues.
The Braves' runs in the sixth came off Dan Straily (7-8). Ender Inciarte singled, stole second and scored when Freeman blooped a single to left. Freeman scored on a double by Nick Markakis.
In the seventh inning, after Braves loaded the bases on walks, Brandon Phillips lashed a two-RBI single just inside the third-base bag. Freeman followed by blasting a three-run homer to left field, his 20th. Both extra-base hits were allowed by Dustin McGowan.
Freeman was 2-for-4 and now has 45 RBIs. He is hitting .395 in 43 at-bats with runners in scoring position.
Giancarlo Stanton clubbed his third homer of the series to produce the first run in the sixth inning. The solo shot, his 36th homer, went 446 feet into the left-field stands. It was his 18th career homer against the Braves and leaves him one shy of his personal best of 37 set in 2012.
Stanton, who was 2-for-4, doubled home a run in the eighth, easily scoring Dee Gordon from first base.
The Marlins tried to rally in the ninth. They loaded the bases with one out against reliever Luke Jackson, forcing Atlanta manager Brian Snitker to bring in closer Arodys Vizcaino. He retired the next two batters to end the game and earn his fifth save.
Straily lost for the fourth straight time. In 5 2/3 innings he allowed two runs, five hits and one walk while striking out seven.
Atlanta failed to cash in on its two early scoring chances.
The Braves got a runner to third in the second inning when Kurt Suzuki doubled and advanced on an infield out. He was stranded there when Johan Camargo struck out.
Atlanta's Ozzie Albies reached third base in the third inning. He singled, was sacrificed to second and took third on a fly ball, but Phillips grounded out to shortstop to end the threat.
NOTES: The Braves recalled INF/OF Jace Peterson from Triple-A Gwinnett and LHP Max Fried from Double-A Mississippi. They sent RHP Jason Hursh to Triple-A Gwinnett and traded INF/OF Sean Rodriguez to Pittsburgh for 1B/OF Connor Joe, the No. 39 pick in the 2014 draft. ... When Atlanta RHP Mike Foltynewicz struck out his eighth batter, he set a career high for strikeouts in a season at 112. ... Atlanta CF Ender Inciarte extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a single in the sixth inning.
