Richard Rodriguez surrenders back-to-back homers late as Braves lose to Marlins

The Braves fell behind early Saturday, as they’ve done in each game during this homestand, but again rallied to even the score in the middle innings. The Marlins spoiled the comeback with back-to-back homers late, sending the Braves to a 6-4 loss.

Here are five takeaways from Saturday:

1. Richard Rodriguez became a difference maker in the Braves’ bullpen when they acquired him from the Pirates at the trade deadline. He’s dropped back to earth recently, giving up runs in pivotal moments in each of his last three outings, including Saturday.

In a 3-3 tie to open the eighth, Rodriguez surrendered back-to-back homers to Bryan De La Cruz and Jesus Sanchez. It was the third consecutive outing Rodriguez gave up a home run. He’s given up four homers over his last three innings after allowing only one in his first 16-2/3 frames as a Brave.

“Maybe his location, by his standards, is off a little bit,” manager Brian Snitker said of the four-seamer-heavy Rodriguez. “I love the fact he throws the ball over. But probably he’s going to need to come up with something else to get them off that fastball. It’s a good fastball. He can get on top of guys. But he’s probably just going to have to come up with something to get them off of it over the course of an at-bat.”

Credit: AP

Credit: AP

2. The Marlins struck for three runs against Braves starter Charlie Morton in the first two innings. Morton settled down from there. He covered seven innings, keeping the Marlins scoreless after the second. He struck out seven, bringing his season total to 192. Morton is on track to become the second Braves starter in 12 years to strike out 200 hitters, joining Mike Foltynewicz (2018).

The 37-year-old Morton has logged seven innings in consecutive starts for the second time this season. He’s covered at least five innings in 26 of his 29 starts, including each of his last eight outings.

“He just keeps amazing me,” Snitker said.

3. The Braves couldn’t convert in scoring opportunities over the first four innings. But like the night before, they found their rhythm in the fifth – with a spark from their starter.

Morton stroked a one-out double off Marlins starter Elieser Hernandez, who’d surrendered only three hits over the first four frames. Second baseman Ozzie Albies hit a loud flyout to the right-field wall, moving Morton to third.

Then came the Braves’ bats: Outfielder Jorge Soler, pivotal in Friday’s win, doubled to score the Braves’ first run. First baseman Freddie Freeman followed with a single, scoring Soler and cutting the deficit to one. Third baseman Austin Riley capped the two-out rally with a game-tying single that ended Hernandez’s night.

4. Morton’s comeback-starting double was just the fifth extra-base hit (all doubles) of his lengthy career. It was his first extra-base hit since doubling Sept. 20, 2011, against the Diamondbacks when Morton was with the Pirates. He had three doubles that season.

“I do notice, honestly, my contacts – I know I fidget with them a lot, but I do think the contacts have made a difference (he started wearing them in 2019),” Morton said. “It started when I was having trouble seeing signs at night. I crossed up a couple catchers and it was like, ‘Alright, I have to do something about this.’ At night, I was having trouble seeing signs. I do think I can see the ball a little bit better. It’s like, ‘Huh.’ I got up there and think maybe I can put the ball in play once or twice.”

5. Outfielder Adam Duvall smacked a double in the fourth inning, extending his hitting streak to a career-best 10 games. He has an extra-base hit in eight of those games.

Stat to know

.148 and .199 (Braves pitchers lead the National League with a collective .148 average and .199 slugging percentage.)

Quotable

“I’m awful.” – Morton said, laughing about his hitting ability

Dansby defense

Swanson has made his share of highlight-reel plays, but few are more impressive than the diving double play he turned to end the seventh inning Saturday.

Up next

The Braves and Marlins face each other for the final time this season Sunday. Braves lefty Max Fried (11-7, 3.42) will face Marlins right-hander Edward Cabrera (0-1, 7.11).