MIAMI, FL – From the start of this game, the Atlanta Braves were destined to close it out with a series win. They took advantage of Sandy Alcantara all night long in an uncontested manner. The Miami Marlins lost 9-3, closing out the series in an uninspiring, unstimulating way.
Braves Cash in on Runs
The Braves got off to a fast start in the first inning. Ronald Acuña Jr. singled and then scored on a Michael Harris II two-run homer, making it 2-0. Harris II was already on fire in the series, having two hit games in each of the last pair of games in the series.
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Braves 2 | Marlins 0Michael Harris II does more damage against the #Marlins with a two-run blast in the opening frame, his 10th of the season
Exit Velo: 110.5 MPH
Distance: 415 Feet pic.twitter.com/wfXbkHuRn6— Ricardo Urrusuno (@RickScores) May 21, 2026
During the second inning, Atlanta added another run to their lead with a solo shot from Mike Yastrzemski, his third of the season.
Owen Caissie homered on Spencer Strider’s fastball in the third inning. The right fielder sent the ball 403 feet with a launch angle of 39 degrees into right field. His fourth long ball of the season had an exit speed of 105.6 MPH.
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Braves 3 | Marlins 1Owen Caissie sends this homer 403 feet into right field, his fourth of the season
Exit Velo: 105.6
Launch Angle: 39#Marlins #FightinFish pic.twitter.com/9UIVmCEUwf— Ricardo Urrusuno (@RickScores) May 21, 2026
In the fourth inning, Kyle Stowers broke out of a homerless drought, connecting on his second home run of the season. Stowers sent a curveball 376 feet into right field with an exit speed of 100.5 MPH and a launch angle of 38 degrees.
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Braves 3 | Marlins 2Kyle Stowers hits his second long ball of the season at an exit speed of 100.5
He took Spencer Strider's curveball 371 feet into right field at a launch angle of 38 degrees #Marlins #FightinFish pic.twitter.com/bsCX18lw9V
— Ricardo Urrusuno (@RickScores) May 21, 2026
Acuña Jr. extended Atlanta’s lead to 5-2 in the fifth inning with a two-run single, scoring Yastrzemski and Ha-Seong Kim. The two RBI were his first since April 28.
Yastrzemski made it 6-2 in the sixth after driving in Dominic Smith on a double. After trying to go to third for a triple, Tastrzemski was caught in a rundown to end the inning.
Sandy Alcantara Struggles Continue
Sandy Alcantara finished the game, throwing 94 pitches in six innings, allowing nine hits and six earned runs on three strikeouts. It wasn’t his worst start of the season, but it was up there amongst one of the more disappointing ones.
Alcantara had just a 13% whiff rate in the game. At best, he got the Braves to whiff on four sliders, two changeups, and one four-seam fastball. He didn’t get any whiffs on the sinker or sweeper. He also had just seven swings and misses.
The final line for Sandy Alcantara:
6.0 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 K, 2 HR, 94 NP (68 Strikes)He was not effective enough in tonight's start. The Braves whiffed at just 13% of his pitches and had 10 hard-hit balls in the game. #Marlins pic.twitter.com/P5OWMU09QD
— Ricardo Urrusuno (@RickScores) May 22, 2026
Meanwhile, the Braves batted 22 balls into play on nine hits and 10 hard-hit balls. Atlanta wasn’t too prone to chasing, as they did so just 37% of the time.
Alcantara brought up his ERA to 4.00 on the season and has not looked like his CY Young self in May. He’s 0-1 with a 4.96 ERA, 14 strikeouts, .290 opponent’s average, and 1.53 WHIP in four starts.
First Multi-Homer Game of Season
Kyle Stowers and the Marlins had their first multi-homer game of the season. It was his first since July 18 of last season against the Royals.
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Braves 6 | Marlins 3Kyle Stowers has his first multi-homer game since July 18 of last season
He took a slider 382-feet into the Braves bullpen, with a launch angle of 33 degrees and an exit velo of 102.7#Marlins #FightinFish pic.twitter.com/rqGDKvmCO5
— Ricardo Urrusuno (@RickScores) May 22, 2026
Stowers took charge of a slider into Atlanta’s bullpen, sending it 382 feet at a launch angle of 33 degrees.
Strider Strikes Out Nine and Braves Score More Runs
Spencer Strider was dialing on the mound. He threw 100 pitches in 6.1 innings of work, surrendering just four hits, three runs, and two walks on a season-high of nine strikeouts. The Marlins had nothing to show for against the 2023 All-Star.
They had just two runners in scoring position all game and left four on base.
The Braves scored two more runs in the eighth inning off Cade Gibson. Mauricio Dubón extended their lead with a two-RBI single into center field.
Gibson allowed three hits on four strikeouts in his two innings. It was only his second appearance of the season, but neither outing has been kind for the 28-year-old.
Pete Fairbanks came in the ninth and recorded two punchouts but also surrendered a solo home run to Michael Harris II, his second long ball of the game. He has not been reliable this season with a 9.00 ERA in 12 games and 11 innings pitched.
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Braves 9 | Marlins 3Michael Harris II goes yard again in this game. This time, he homers on garbage time off Pete Fairbanks. #Marlins pic.twitter.com/tjkuPTmZ6W
— Ricardo Urrusuno (@RickScores) May 22, 2026
Up Next
The last-place Marlins will play the fourth-place Mets tomorrow at 7:10 to close out the homestand. Eury Perez (2-5, 5.33 ERA, 58 K) will make the start while New York still doesn’t have a starter in place for the game.
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