After getting outscored 49-25 in a recent nine-game homestand, Marlins manager Dan Jennings is pleased the team's offence is showing signs of life.
Now if Miami can hit the ball well and win on the same night.
"Tough game to lose," Jennings said. "When you score eight runs, you feel like you should win those ballgames."
After the Marlins scored three runs in the eighth inning to tie it 8-all, reliever Bryan Morris gave up a go-ahead single to Eury Perez in the bottom half of the inning and Miami lost 9-8 to the Atlanta Braves on Thursday night.
Perez delivered the winning hit against Bryan Morris (3-3) after Daniel Castro reached on an infield single, advanced to second on Morris' throwing error and moved over on a bunt.
"It was one of those things where I put myself in trouble," Morris said. "Making a bad pitch with two strikes to the first hitter and then throwing the ball down the line."
Nick Markakis had three RBIs and Adonis Garcia hit a two-run homer for the Braves, who won for just the fourth time in 15 games.
Martin Prado had three RBIs for Miami, which has dropped 11 of 13.
Andrew McKirahan (1-0) got the win despite giving up three hits, three runs, one walk and striking out one in the eighth inning.
Arodys Vizcaino, who faced four batters in the ninth, stepped into the closer's role last week after the Braves traded Jim Johnson. He and McKirahan each returned last month after testing positive for a banned substance and serving 80-game suspensions.
Atlanta starter Matt Wisler surrendered nine hits, five runs and three walks and struck out three in 5 1-3 innings. The rookie has a 7.04 ERA over his last four starts.
The Braves led 8-5 in the fifth against Adam Conley after Joey Terdoslavich's RBI triple and Garcia's fifth homer.
Marlins starter Jose Urena left with a bruised left knee after two innings. He was injured when Daniel Castro lined a single off his leg. Urena gave up five runs on six hits. The injury affected this approach.
"A little bit because I had to chance my whole delivery," Urena said.
The Marlins tied it 8-8 in the eighth on Dee Gordon's two-run single and Christian Yelich's RBI grounder.
Jennings had hoped his team would keep showing life after scoring six runs in the ninth inning of an 8-6 loss Wednesday to the New York Mets.
The bats were active, but Miami's pitching wasn't strong enough to match the effort.
"Usually when you see nights like that — 13 hits, eight runs — you feel very good about your chances to win," Jennings said.
TRAINER'S ROOM
MARLINS: Jennings said RF Giancarlo Stanton, on the disabled list since June 28 with a left wrist fracture, is swinging in the cage, running and throwing. Jennings added it's still too early to project a timetable for Stanton's return. ... Jennings said RHP Jarred Cosart, who's sidelined with vertigo, will soon begin a throwing program at the team's minor league facility in Jupiter, Florida. Jennings hopes that Cosart will return before the end of August. ... C J.T. Realmuto has a sore hand and was out of the lineup for the second straight game.
BRAVES: SS Andrelton Simmons missed his fifth straight game with a bruised right thumb. Manager Fredi Gonzalez said Simmons can field and throw but still hasn't been allowed to swing a bat.
UP NEXT
MARLINS: RHP Jose Fernandez (4-0) is 3-1 with a 0.93 ERA in four career starts against Atlanta. Right-handed batters are hitting .187 against him in six starts this year.
BRAVES: RHP Julio Teheran (7-6) is 5-1 with a 2.54 ERA in 10 career starts against the Marlins.
This content appears as provided to The Globe by the originating wire service. It has not been edited by Globe staff.