Fish Wrap - Marlins 6, Braves 4

The Marlins got a much-needed day off Monday, and were back in action Tuesday night to kick off a ten-game homestand with the Braves.

Kenshin Kawakami made the start for Atlanta, and the Fish were eager to test the new life that found its way to their bats at the end of their road trip, and to try and improve Kawakami's sparkling record to 0-7. They got off to a good start in the first when Chris Coghlan hit a lead-off double, and scored on a single from Hanley Ramirez.

Anibal Sanchez was on the hill for the Marlins, and he continued his trend of allowing two earned runs or less to the opposing team. He lasted 6 1/3 innings, and gave up two runs on five hits and four walks, and struck out six.

Issuing a lead-off walk to the pitcher is usually not a good omen, and that proved true for Anibal in the third inning, when he walked Kawakami to open the frame. Sanchy went on to give up two runs to the Braves before the end of inning. Martin Prado singled, and with two out, Brian McCann hit a two-run double to give the Braves the lead.

In the bottom of the third, Cameron Maybin tied up the game with one swing of the bat--a home run to left center to make it 2-2.

The Fish would regain the lead for good in the fifth. Paulino and Maybin singled to open the inning and moved up on Anibal's sac bunt, and a groundout from Coghlan plated Paulino to give the Marlins a one-run advantage.

The seventh inning proved interesting, as Anibal exited the game after 116 pitches, with one out and two runners on. Brian Sanches struck out Martin Prado for the second out, and then Renyel Pinto entered the game to face Jason Heyward. Plunking Heyward was Renyel's version of keeping the rookie sensation from doing any damage, so he did that to load the bases. The Braves' threat ended when Chipper Jones lined out, and all of South Florida breathed a collective sigh of relief.

The Marlins broke things open in the eighth inning against Jesse Chavez. Jorge Cantu singled, Dan Uggla walked, and Cody Ross doubled them both home. Ronny Paulino followed with a single that scored Cody, and the Fish were up 6-2 going into the ninth.

It's a good thing the Marlins added on, because Leo Nunez had a bit of an off night as he pitched the ninth.

With one out, Nunez gave up a single to Brooks Conrad and a double to Martin Prado before Jason Heyward singled to drive in both runs. Nunez got out of the inning, though, when he got Chipper and McCann to ground out, and the Marlins took the first game of the series.