MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (Interstat) — The Atlanta Braves defeated the Miami Marlins 9-3 on Thursday at loanDepot Park, winning their third straight game in the series. Atlanta improved to 35-16, while Miami fell to 22-29. Michael Harris II opened the scoring with a two-run homer in the first inning, scoring Ronald Acuña Jr. The Braves added a run in the second, then Acuña delivered a two-run single in the fifth. Mike Yastrzemski doubled in a run in the sixth and Mauricio Dubón added a two-run single in the eighth. Atlanta also scored once in the ninth. The Braves totaled 13 hits. Miami scored single runs in the third, fourth and seventh innings. Owen Caissie homered for the Marlins, who had six hits. Sandy Alcantara (3-3) took the loss, allowing six earned runs on nine hits and striking out three over six innings. Spencer Strider (2-0) earned the win for Atlanta. Attendance was 8,834. The game lasted 2 hours, 45 minutes.

MIAMI (Interstat) — The Atlanta Braves continued their dominance at loanDepot Park on Thursday, May 21, 2026, defeating the Miami Marlins 9-3 in a game that saw Spencer Strider improve to 2-0 on the season and Sandy Alcantara absorb his third loss. An announced crowd of 8,834 watched the Braves pound out 13 hits to Miami’s six, with the game lasting 2 hours, 45 minutes. Atlanta improved to 35-16, while Miami fell to 22-29. The Braves seized control early. In the first inning, Ronald Acuña Jr. singled, then Michael Harris II launched his 10th home run of the season to center field, scoring Acuña for a quick 2-0 lead. After a scoreless bottom half, Mike Yastrzemski led off the second inning with his third homer of the year, a solo shot to right-center, pushing the lead to 3-0. Miami answered in the third when Owen Caissie hit his fourth home run, a solo blast to right-center, trimming the deficit to 3-1. The Marlins struck again in the fourth. Kyle Stowers, who had singled earlier, homered to right-center for his second long ball of the season, making it 3-2. The pivotal moment came in the fifth inning. Yastrzemski led off with a single, and Ha-Seong Kim followed with a single to center, putting runners at first and second. Chadwick Tromp sacrificed them over on a bunt, advancing Yastrzemski to third and Kim to second. Acuña then grounded a single through the middle off Alcantara, scoring both runners and extending Atlanta’s lead to 5-2. The Marlins left a runner on base in the bottom half but could not cut further into the advantage. Atlanta tacked on a run in the sixth. Dominic Smith singled and later scored on a double by Yastrzemski, though Yastrzemski was thrown out trying to take third on the play. The Braves led 6-2. Miami answered again in the seventh. Stowers, who had already homered once, belted his third home run of the season, a solo shot to right-center, making it 6-3. But the Braves restored their cushion in the eighth. Ozzie Albies was hit by a pitch, Smith followed with a double to left, and after a strikeout, Mauricio Dubón delivered a two-run single to center, scoring Albies and Smith. The score moved to 8-3. In the ninth, Harris hit his second homer of the game, his 11th of the season, a solo shot to center for a 9-3 advantage. Strider earned the win, allowing three runs on five hits over six innings, striking out nine and walking one. Alcantara took the loss, surrendering six runs on nine hits in six innings with three strikeouts and no walks. The Braves’ bullpen held Miami scoreless over the final three frames. Key performances for Miami included Cade Gibson, who pitched two innings of relief and allowed two earned runs on three hits while striking out four; first baseman Christopher Morel went 1-for-3 with a walk; and pinch-hitter Heriberto Hernández went 1-for-2. Right-handed reliever Pete Fairbanks worked one inning, allowing one earned run on one hit with two strikeouts. For the Braves, Harris finished with two home runs and four RBIs, Acuña had two hits and two RBIs, and Yastrzemski contributed a single, double and home run for three hits and two RBIs. The victory gave Atlanta its third win in the four-game series, following a 9-1 win Wednesday, an 8-4 win Tuesday, and a 12-0 loss Monday. The Braves have won five of their last six games overall, while the Marlins have dropped six of their last eight. Atlanta heads home to face the Washington Nationals starting Friday, May 22, before a road trip to Boston and Cincinnati. Miami hosts the New York Mets beginning Friday, then travels to Toronto and New York. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Atlanta 6, Miami 4, and its ELO system gave Atlanta a 59.40 percent probability to win. The Braves were installed as pregame favorites with a spread of minus-1.5. The total of 12 runs went under the over-under line of 7.5.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (Interstat) — The Atlanta Braves visit the Miami Marlins on Thursday night at loanDepot Park, with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. EDT. The forecast calls for 83 degrees and rain, likely keeping the retractable roof closed. Atlanta (34-16) sends right-hander Spencer Strider (1-0) to the mound. The Marlins (22-28) counter with right-hander Sandy Alcantara (3-2). The Braves have won the first two games of this four-game series, routing Miami 8-4 on Tuesday and 9-1 on Wednesday. The Marlins avoided a sweep earlier in the week with a 12-0 shutout Monday. Atlanta has won seven of its last 10 games overall, while Miami has dropped four of its last five. Players to watch: For Atlanta, left-handed reliever Martín Pérez has been effective in limited recent work. Over his last four appearances, he has allowed four earned runs in 12 ⅔ innings, striking out 19. He earned a win in Tuesday’s series opener, allowing four runs over five innings with 10 strikeouts. For Miami, right-handed reliever Michael Petersen has been solid in most recent outings. Over his last four appearances, he has allowed no earned runs in 4 ⅔ innings, striking out five. His lone hiccup came May 9 vs. Washington, when he allowed three earned runs without recording an out. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 6-4 Braves victory. Atlanta is a -1.5 run-line favorite. The over/under is set at 7.5 runs. Up next: Atlanta returns home to host Washington for a three-game series beginning Friday. Miami opens a three-game home set against the New York Mets on Friday.