The Atlanta Braves exploded for nine runs in the ninth inning to even up the series in Miami and beat the Marlins on Tuesday night, 11-2.
It was a low-scoring affair for eight innings — and, truthfully, the first 17 innings of the series — but Atlanta’s bats finally came to life with the score tied 2-2 in the ninth.
Vidal Brujan doubled home a run to give the Braves the lead, then Drake Baldwin roped a two-run single to right field to make it 5-2 and strengthen his Rookie of the Year case.
Ronald Acuña Jr. walked with the bases loaded for another run, followed by Eli White lining a ball to the outfield to make it 8-3. The exclamation point came from Ozzie Albies, who homered for the second time on Tuesday night and his first time from the right side all season.
Before the big ninth inning, it was a mostly quiet ball game. Both teams traded runs in the first inning. The Braves loaded the bases, and a weak infield grounder from Marcell Ozuna plated the first run of the game.
With the score then tied in the fourth, Ozzie Albies launched a no-doubter off Sandy Alcantara to give Atlanta a 2-1 lead. Ozzie has absolutely crushed the Marlins in Miami over the years. The two homer game was his first since July 2023.
It was the worst performance of the season from Hurston Waldrep, who navigated his way through an inefficient 5.1 innings with a boatload of base runners. Waldrep didn’t strike out anyone and allowed eight hits and a walk, but some timely pitching in crunch time allowed the fish to only score one run against him. He was fortunate to escape with just one run allowed, but there’s also probably something to be said for the young righty figuring things out on a night he clearly did not have his best stuff or command.
Dylan Lee uncorked a wild pitch in the seventh inning to allow Miami to tie it at 2-2 before the late inning rally.
The Braves and Marlins will play for the final time in 2025 on Wednesday afternoon. Joey Wentz will start for the Braves and will be opposed by righty Ryan Gusto. There might be 1,500 people in attendance. First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m. ET.
