ATLANTA _ The Miami Marlins had already rallied three times on Monday against the top team in the National League East.
Why not do it one more time in extra innings?
Miguel Rojas' fourth hit of the day, a double to right-center in the 10th past the extended glove of Ronald Acuna Jr., lifted the Marlins to a 5-4 road win over the Atlanta Braves to start a three-game series at Truist Park.
The win lifts Miami back to a .500 record at 18-18 on the season and at the very least ensures they will be tied for the second National League wild card spot when the day ends. The Braves are 24-17.
Nick Vincent tossed a scoreless bottom half of the inning to close out the win and earn the save.
Adam Duvall tied the game with a solo home run to lead off the ninth to send the game to extra innings. Kintzler has now blown saves in consecutive games after converting each of his first nine opportunities to start the season.
Before that, the Marlins scored four runs over the second, third and fourth innings _ all with two outs, to take a lead they would carry into that ninth inning.
Another two-out rally, Miami's third in as many innings and latest in a long line over this pandemic-shortened season, gave the Marlins a lead over the top team in the National League East.
The Marlins entered Monday with a .263 batting average with two outs, the fourth-best mark in MLB behind the Chicago White Sox (.281), San Diego Padres (.275) and Boston Red Sox (.270).
The Marlins have scored 77 of their 152 runs, or just shy of half, this season with two outs.
That trend continued Monday. Miami climbed out of its early deficits _ first 2-0 after the first and 3-1 after the second _ with clutch hits when it was down to its final out in innings. Seven of the Marlins' nine hits, three of their seven walks and all four runs scored before extra innings came with two outs.
Jose Urena, making his first start of the season after being part of the team's COVID-19 outbreak at the start of the year, earned the win after holding the Braves to three runs on four hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out two and closed his time on the mound with three scoreless innings although he almost caused a potential fracas in the fourth when he hit Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. with a high 95 mph sinker.
Josh A. Smith worked 1 2/3 innings and James Hoyt struck out Marcell Ozuna with the bases loaded to end the seventh. Brad Boxberger handled a scoreless eighth before Kintzler gave up the game-tying run and forced extra innings.
_ The Marlins moved outfielder Harold Ramirez to the 60-day IL and optioned infielder Eddy Alvarez to make room for Urena on the active roster. The team also put left-handed pitcher Brandon Liebrandt on the 10-day IL with left elbow ulnar neuritis and recalled outfielder Monte Harrison.
