MIAMI _ The Miami Marlins' first home series of the 2020 season started about as well as they could have hoped. Offensive production. Quality pitching. Big plays on defense. The result: An 8-2 win over the Atlanta Braves on Friday.
The strong starting pitching continued through the remaining two games of the series. The same couldn't be said about the offense and bullpen, and that cost the Marlins the chance to take a series from the two-time defending National League East champions.
Miami recorded just eight total hits on Saturday and Sunday, including two in their 4-0 loss in Sunday's finale. The Marlins lost 2-1 on Saturday as well, with both Atlanta runs coming on a pair of home runs. The bullpen gave up five of the six runs in the final two games, including all four on Sunday.
Despite dropping the final two games of the series, the Marlins (9-6, .600 win percentage) still hold a lead over the Braves (13-10, .565) in the NL East standings. No other team in the division has a record above .500 through Sunday's games. Miami continues its seven-game homestand with a four-game series against the New York Mets starting Monday.
Nick Markakis drove in three runs for Atlanta, opening scoring with an RBI single off Nick Vincent that scored Dansby Swanson and a two-run double in the seventh off Brian Moran.
The Marlins, meanwhile, managed just three baserunners on Sunday, two of whom were erased on inning-ending double plays.
Marlins manager Don Mattingly was ejected in the fifth inning for arguing balls and strikes.
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