Chris Narveson steps up, helps Marlins blank Braves
ATLANTA (AP) -- Chris Narveson wanted to at least finish the sixth inning before a finger blister developed and ended his night.
"I wanted to go as deep as I possibly could," he said. "I think that's what your goal is every time you take the mound. It kind of stinks to come out a little early but I'm happy the team got a win."?
Martin Prado and Justin Bour each had an RBI double in the eighth inning and the Miami Marlins extended Shelby Miller's winless streak to 19 starts with a 4-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Monday night.
Narveson (2-1) allowed two hits, two walks and struck out three in 5 1-3 innings. The blister on his left middle finger began developing in the third and popped in the sixth.
After allowing eight hits and seven runs and lasting only 3 2-3 innings in his last start, the journeyman was hoping to make a case for staying in the rotation.
"That was huge, and it was big for us, too, for him to go out there and get into that sixth inning," Marlins manager Dan Jennings said. "It was something that we needed, and he stepped up in a big way."
Narveson has already progressed in a short time with the Marlins. In his last outing -- a 7-2 loss to Pittsburgh last week-- Narveson started for the first time since 2012. He pitched last year in Japan.
Miller, an All-Star with a sparkling 2.56 ERA, began the night with the worst support in the majors, and the Braves, losers in six straight and 13 of 14, stayed true to form.
Beginning the night with the worst average (.227) in the NL with runners in scoring position since the All-Star break, Atlanta has scored two runs or less in 20 of Miller's 27 starts.
"He's a great pitcher," Narveson said. "He's having tough luck. You feel for him, the string of starts that he's had. I always thought he had really good stuff. He'll get through it, I know that."
Miller (5-12) gave up six hits and struck out seven in seven innings.
After getting blown out by an aggregate 38-11 score in a three-game series sweep by the New York Yankees, the Braves' offense was no match for Narveson, a journeyman making his second start since 2012.
Miller's 19-start streak is the longest in the majors this year and an in-season Atlanta record. Carl Morton has the longest franchise streak at 22 starts from Sept. 10, 1975-July 18, 1976.
Miller, pitching on his usual five days' rest, was moved up one day in the rotation when Mike Foltynewicz was scratched three hours before the game with viral symptoms.
The Marlins went up 1-0 in the second on Cole Gillespie's second homer. Prado and Bour drove in runs against Matt Marksbury. Peter Moylan gave up Christian Yelich's RBI single in the ninth.
Miller pitched out of a jam in fifth. J.T. Realmuto singled, stole second and advanced to third on catcher Christian Bethancourt's throwing error, but Miller struck out the next three batters he faced.
Miller is 0-11 with a 3.13 ERA since beating the Marlins 6-0 on May 17.
NICE KNOWING YOU
The Braves traded LF Jonny Gomes to the Kansas City Royals for minor league shortstop Luis Valenzuela during the game. Gomes went 0 for 2 and left after the fifth. He hugged his teammates in the dugout and began packing up his belongings in the clubhouse. The 34-year-old Gomes has been in the postseason four times since 2010.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: Jennings said RF Giancarlo Stanton, who broke his left hand June 26, will make his first rehab appearance in Tuesday's doubleheader for Single-A Jupiter. Monday's game was rained out. ... Yelich, still bothered by a sore right knee, was out of the starting lineup for the fifth straight game but entered as a pinch-hitter in the eighth.
Braves: SS Andrelton Simmons was scratched with right ankle inflammation about 15 minutes before the first pitch. Pedro Ciriaco took his place in the lineup and went 1 for 3.
UP NEXT
Marlins: LHP Justin Nicolino (2-2) will face Atlanta for the first time. He has a 3.65 ERA in six career starts.
Braves: LHP Manny Banuelos (1-2) will make his fifth career start as he faces Miami for the first time. He has a 2.49 ERA.
