MIAMI _ Home Chen continues to be the best Chen.
On Saturday night, Wei-Yin Chen continued his mastery at Marlins Park, tossing six shutout innings and striking out a season-high 10 batters to help Miami beat Atlanta, 3-0.
The 6-foot left-hander lowered his home ERA to 1.86 on the season, scattering six hits on 109 pitches _ also a season-high. Saturday marked the third time in his career he's notched at least 10 strikeouts.
At the plate, JT Realmuto drove in one run and Brian Anderson added a pinch hit two-run homer to give Chen all the run support he'd need.
The lefty starter ran intro trouble in the sixth inning with two runners on and the game scoreless, but escaped unharmed after striking out Anibal Sanchez to end the threat.
The 33-year-old's home dominance stands in stark contrast to his performance on the road, where he's posted a 9.35 ERA in 10 starts. The 7.49 difference in home/road ERA is the largest gap for any starting pitcher since 2012.
The Marlins bats came alive in the bottom half of the sixth. After Rafael Ortega led off the frame with a triple to right, JT Realmuto drove him in with a sacrifice fly, giving Miami a 1-0 lead. The Marlins All-Star catcher finished 1-for-2 with a walk and an RBI, snapping an 0-for-16 skid at the plate.
In the seventh, Anderson added to the lead after demolishing a Chad Sobotka 3-2 fast ball for a 415-foot homer to left. His 10th home run of the season had an exit velocity of 106 mph.
The Marlins' bullpen came up big again as Drew Rucinski, Adam Conley, Kyle Barraclough and Drew Steckenrider _ picking up the save _ combined for three shutout innings.
Making his first appearance since being placed on DL two weeks ago, Barraclough threw one inning, giving up one hit, while striking out one.
Former Marlin Anibal Sanchez took the loss, giving up one run in 52/3 innings. Sanchez left the game in the sixth inning with right hamstring tightness.
