ATLANTA _ Dan Straily started the season late due to injury.
He hopes more performances like he has lately will lead him to a strong finish.
Straily pitched seven scoreless innings and gave up only three hits, to help the Marlins to a 2-0 shutout of the host Atlanta Braves on Friday at SunTrust Park.
It was the longest of Straily's four outings this season since returning from a left forearm strain that delayed his season debut until April 30.
The Marlins (17-27) have won all four of those outings, and won for the third time in four games.
It was one of Straily's best outings since joining the Marlins last season and the furthest he pitched into a game without giving up a run during that span.
Straily struck out six and walked three (one intentional) in his first start in which he threw seven shutout innings since July 17, 2016 while still pitching for the Reds.
The Marlins scored both runs to back up Straily in the sixth when they strung three consecutive hits off Braves starter Matt Wisler. After Martin Prado singled, J.T. Realmuto tripled and Starlin Castro followed with a double.
Kyle Barraclough and Brad Ziegler shut the door out of the bullpen with a pair of scoreless innings.
Straily's only real predicament came in the bottom of the fourth inning when he walked Freddie Freeman and gave up a double to Nick Markakis. But even with the infield playing deep to possibly concede a run, Straily induced a pop-up by Tyler Flowers. After walking Ender Inciarte intentionally, Straily struck out Jose Bautista and got Johan Camargo to fly out to right field to end the inning.
