Braves claim series victory vs. Marlins

The earliest the Braves can clinch is Sunday at Turner Field. But it won’t be all bad if the Braves pop champagne next week in the visiting clubhouse of the second-place Nationals.

“The next thing we want to do is win the next three at home,” Freeman said. “Then go into Washington and see if we can have some fun there.”

For Thursday, though, the Braves celebrated Freeman’s 24th birthday by watching him reach the 20-home run plateau for the third consecutive season.

Freeman, who was 3-for-4 with two RBIs, used a two-run shot off Flynn to reach 98 RBIs. Freeman is two shy of becoming the first Brave to drive in 100 runs since 2007, when both Chipper Jones (102) and Jeff Francoeur (105) did it. But it’s Jones’ streak of 14 consecutive 20-homer seasons that Freeman is really after.

“That’s three down, 11 more to go,” Freeman said. “I can send him a text message: That’s another one down, going into next year.”

Chris Johnson is chasing a special number of his own. He went 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBIs to raise his average to .330, four points behind the Rockies’ Michael Cuddyer (.334) in the NL batting race. Johnson would have had a fourth hit if not for a diving catch by left fielder Chris Coghlan.

Evan Gattis doubled in two runs to give him 10 RBIs in nine games since his return from Triple-A Gwinnett. He has hit .314 (11-for-35) with four doubles and four home runs since he returned.

The Braves handed Garcia a 4-0 lead in the third inning, which he used to do just what the Braves needed — win his first start as a Brave. He allowed only one run in six innings.

“He knows how to maneuver himself through a major league lineup, and put a little on, put a little off, never give you the same look at any of the pitches,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Garcia was making a spot start so the Braves could rest rookie left-hander Alex Wood, as they did Minor and Julio Teheran.

“Whatever they need me to do, in the bullpen or be a starter, I’m ready for,” Garcia said.

Garcia has a 1.32 ERA in four appearances, three in relief, since the Braves acquired him from Baltimore on Aug. 23.

Braves right-hander Jordan Walden saw action for the first time in three weeks. He pitched a scoreless seventh inning, allowing a single, in his first work since straining a groin muscle. He, David Carpenter and Anthony Varvaro combined for three scoreless innings.

The Marlins scratched hard-throwing Nathan Eovaldi because of back stiffness. Flynn, a September call-up, struggled with his command, walking six in four innings. He walked the bases loaded to start the third inning, and Gattis and Johnson jumped on first pitches to net a pair of two-run doubles to left field and a 4-0 lead.