MLB Scores: Miami Marlins 1, Atlanta Braves 2

MIAMI -- Henderson Alvarez turned in a quality start and helped himself at the plate on Monday afternoon. But a Nick Markakis RBI single in the sixth gave the Braves a lead that was not lost as the Marlins fell to Atlanta 2-1 to begin the 2015 campaign.

Atlanta got on the board early against Alvarez, manufacturing a run in the first. Right fielder Jace Peterson singled with one out, and after advancing to second on a balk, scored on a Freddie Freeman RBI single which gave the Braves a 1-0 edge.

Miami first got on the board against Julio Teheran in the third, when Henderson Alvarez doubled to left field with two outs and scored on a Dee Gordon RBI single to tie the game at one.

The Braves got to Alvarez again the top of the sixth, when Eric Young Jr. led off the frame with a double and scored on  a Markakis fielder's choice to make it a 2-1 contest.

In his seven innings, Alvarez allowed six hits and two runs while striking out a pair and not issuing a walk.

"I felt great," Alvarez said. "I was just trying to keep my pitches in the strike zone. I was very honored to be able to go out there and throw on opening day."

Michael Morse, Martin Prado, and Marcell Ozuna opened the bottom of the seventh with three consecutive singles, however Braves reliever Luis Avilan got Jarrod Saltalamacchia to bounce into a double play and Jim Johnson retired Adeiny Hechavarria to end the inning and hold the lead.

"I don't know that it would be a deciding factor on one hit," Saltalamacchia said. "It's opening day. We couldn't quite get it done. You always want to be in a situation to help your team win. Today wasn't that day. Maybe tomorrow is."

Mike Dunn struck out the side in the eighth and A.J. Ramos kept the Braves off the board in the top of the ninth.

"It was just going out there and doing my job," Dunn said. "It's just game one. We'll put it behind us. We have expectations for this team and we know what we could do as a team."

The Marlins will take on the Braves in game two of the three game set on Tuesday night.

Source: FanGraphs

Hero of the Game: Marcell Ozuna (+.184 WPA)

Goat of the Game: Jarrod Saltalamacchia (-.385 WPA)

Play of The Game: Dee Gordon singled to left in the third, allowing Henderson Alvarez to score. (+.120 WPA)