Edward Cabrera delivered his best outing of the season, striking out 10 over seven dazzling innings as the Miami Marlins beat the Atlanta Braves 2-1 on Monday night at loanDepot Park.
Cabrera (7-7), who had allowed nine earned runs and 18 hits in his previous two starts, was nearly unhittable. The right-hander gave up just one hit — a leadoff single in the third — and walked two while silencing a powerful Braves lineup.
Miami (62-69) matched its win total from last season with its 62nd victory, powered by clutch hits from Troy Johnston and rookie Máximo Acosta.
The Marlins broke through in the fifth against Spencer Strider (5-12). Otto López drew a leadoff walk, stole second, and scored when Johnston ripped an RBI double that bounced off the warning track in right-center. Strider was sharp otherwise, allowing three hits across seven innings with three strikeouts and two walks. He reached a milestone by recording his 600th career strikeout when he fanned Acosta to begin the sixth.
Acosta added insurance in the eighth, launching a 404-foot solo shot to straightaway center off reliever Pierce Johnson for his third homer of the year.
Atlanta (59-72) made it interesting late. With two outs in the ninth, rookie catcher Drake Baldwin connected for his 14th home run, cutting the deficit to 2-1. But Calvin Faucher closed the door, inducing Ozzie Albies to ground out to third for his 12th save.
The Braves’ best chance against Cabrera came in the sixth when Jurickson Profar walked and stole second with one out. Cabrera, unfazed, struck out Matt Olson and retired Ronald Acuña Jr. on a forceout to keep Miami ahead.
Miami’s bullpen protected Cabrera’s gem. Tyler Zuber got two outs in the eighth before allowing a double to Profar. Josh Simpson relieved, hit Olson with a pitch, but buckled down to retire Acuña on a flyout to end the inning.
Cabrera’s strikeout of Olson in the sixth with the tying run in scoring position, followed by retiring Acuña, preserved Miami’s 1-0 lead. Strider became the fastest pitcher in Braves history to record 600 strikeouts, achieving the feat in just his 67th career start.
The series continues Tuesday as rookie right-hander Hurston Waldrep (4-0, 0.73 ERA) takes the mound for Atlanta against Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara (7-11, 6.04 ERA).
