ATLANTA _ Right-hander Mike Foltynewicz's health is the immediate concern for the Braves after a line drive hit him in the left calf and forced him to leave the game on Monday.
But in regards to Foltynewicz's long-term development, the Braves have to work with him on his tendency to lose focus during games. In this case, Foltynewicz had given back most of a seven-run lead to the Marlins in the fourth inning before he departed with the injury.
That turned what could have been a stress-free victory into a close game before the Braves kept pounding out hits. The Marlins tied the game in the sixth inning before Nick Markakis hit a go-ahead RBI double in the bottom of the inning and the Braves went on to a 12-7 victory.
The Braves overcame shaky pitching with 17 hits, including seven for extra bases, and scored their most runs since a 13-5 victory at St. Louis on Aug. 6. Markakis also had a solo home run and lead-off hitter Ender Inciarte hit a triple and a double. Catcher Tyler Flowers tied a career-high with four RBIs and first baseman Freddie Freeman had three hits and a walk.
The Braves (56-88) improved to 9-4 this season against the Marlins, including 5-1 at Turner Field. The Marlins (71-73) have lost 12 of their last 17 games to fall behind in the race for one of two NL wild-card playoff berths.
Freeman's one-out double against Marlins reliever Brian Ellington set up Markakis' go-ahead RBI. The Braves added another run in the seventh inning on pinch hitter Anthony Recker's RBI single and poured on with three more runs in the eighth, including Flowers' two-run single.
The Braves scored five runs in the third inning for a 7-0 lead. The Marlins responded by batting around in the fourth against Foltynewicz, who allowed five runs and seven hits.
The Braves took the 7-5 lead into the sixth inning. Lefty reliever Ian Krol gave up four consecutive singles with no outs, including an RBI hit by Martin Prado. Braves interim manager Brian Snitker called on Chaz Roe to face pinch hitter Giancarlo Stanton, who hit a sacrifice fly that forged a 7-7 tie.
Foltynewicz had given up three consecutive two-out, RBI singles when Marcell Ozuna smacked a hard line drive that hit Foltynewicz as he followed through on his delivery. Ryan Weber relieved Foltynewicz and retired Justin Bour for the third out.
Seven consecutive Braves batters reached base in the third inning, starting with Inciarte's lead-off double against Marlins starter Andrew Cashner. Inciarte scored when Adonis Garcia reached on an infield single and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria's throw wildly to first.
Freeman followed with a single that extended his hit streak to 18 games and scored Garcia. Matt Kemp singled and Markakis walked to load the bases and chase Cashner in favor of reliever Nick Wittgren.
Flowers hit a two-run single and Jace Peterson singled to load the bases again. Dansby Swanson extended the lead to 7-0 with a sacrifice fly before Wittgren retired Foltynewicz and Inciarte to get out of the inning.
