MIAMI _ The Marlins were already threatening to take control against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday afternoon when second baseman Starlin Castro stepped to the plate.
Catcher J.T. Realmuto and first baseman Justin Bour stood on second and first base, respectively, with one out in the bottom of the fifth. They had just given Miami a three-run lead with an RBI-fielder's choice and then a single, putting Atlanta pitcher Julio Teheran on the ropes.
On an 0-2 count, Castro put the finishing touches on Teheran's day, launching a fastball 374 feet over the left-field wall for a three-run blast, all but securing the Marlins' 9-3 win.
After the game, Castro sat by his locker with a massive chain around his neck in the shape of the Marlins' logo. He says it's dedicated to Jose Fernandez and will be given to the most valuable player at every home game.
On Tuesday, Castro earned those honors with his big home run.
"When you have two right-handed guys before me, then I see how they approach against (Teheran) before I hit," Castro said. "And that's one of the things that (helps)."
Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen was solid enough to get the win, though he flirted heavily with danger in the fifth inning.
Staked to a 4-1 lead, Chen gave up a two-out, two-run double to Charlie Culberson, bringing up All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman.
Freeman entered Tuesday's game 15-for-32 against Miami and already had a single against Chen. This time, he lined out to shortstop JT Riddle, ending the threat and preserving the Marlins' lead.
Chen went six innings and gave up three runs, but it was the offense that starred.
Realmuto finished the day 1-for-3 with four RBIs and a homer of his own _ a 419-foot blast in the first inning. Even Chen pitched in at the plate.
Just after giving up two runs in the top of the fifth, he led off the bottom by roping a double to left center for his first career extra-base hit. He scored on Realmuto's fielder's choice, and the Marlins piled on after that.
"For a moment out there, I thought about going third, but after that I thought, 'Maybe I should just concentrate on pitching,' " Chen said through a translator. "Hitting hasn't always been my strength, but I was happy I could get the double."
Magneuris Sierra, Miami's sixth-best prospect, according to MLB.com, was one of the only Marlins who struggled, finishing 0-for-4 in his debut. Riddle was the only other starter who went hitless.
In the end, though, it didn't matter. The rest of the offense picked up the slack, and Miami split the series with Atlanta, securing its seventh win in the last 11 games.
