Key plays in 8th go against Marlins in 4-2 loss to Braves

ATLANTA (AP) David Phelps thought he had a double play.

Martin Prado thought he had a soft liner hit by Nick Markakis in his glove.

Both eighth-inning plays went against Miami, and the Marlins were left with another loss to the Braves.

The bases-loaded liner by Markakis glanced off Prado's glove and into left field, driving in two runs, and the Marlins lost to Atlanta 4-2 on Friday night.

The liner by Markakis off David Phelps (3-3) was initially ruled an error - a call Prado wouldn't have disputed.

''That's a ball I have to catch,'' Prado said. ''It's hard for me to explain how I missed that ball. ... I don't know if I misjudged the ball. I thought the ball was hit harder than that.''

Markakis said he was just trying to put the ball in play.

''With two strikes I was just looking to protect and put the barrel of the bat on the ball,'' Markakis said. ''Wherever it ends up, it ends up.''

Phelps was charged with two runs on four hits in the inning.

''I've just got to make a better pitch to Markakis,'' Phelps said.

Only an overturned call kept the inning alive and made the decisive at-bat by Markakis possible.

The Braves had the bases loaded with one out in the eighth when Tyler Flowers hit a grounder toward the pitcher's mound. Phelps fielded the ball and threw to catcher J.T. Realmuto for a forceout. Realmuto threw to first and first-base umpire Ben May called Flowers out for an apparent inning-ending double play.

The call was overturned following a review, setting up the Markakis at-bat.

''I thought I had a double play,'' Phelps said. ''I was excited about that.''

Ichiro Suzuki doubled to lead off the third and scored on Marcell Ozuna's double. Ozuna had three hits, boosting his batting average to .343 and giving him a nine-game hitting streak.

The Braves snapped a four-game losing streak and improved to only 3-20 in home games.

''When that ball went off that glove it was just like wow, it can happen,'' said Braves interim manager Brian Snitker. ''We were wondering.''

The Braves began the day tied with Minnesota for the majors' worst record but improved to 4-0 against the Marlins.

Ian Krol (1-0) pitched a perfect eighth. Arodys Vizcaino recorded three straight outs in the ninth for his sixth save in seven chances.

Atlanta's Jeff Francoeur had four hits, all singles, and drove in a run.

Atlanta right-hander Williams Perez allowed two runs on seven hits and one walk in six innings.

BLOWN LEAD

Marlins starter Adam Conley lost a 2-0 lead in the fifth. The Braves tied the game with four straight hits to knock Conley out of the game.

Conley allowed two runs on eight hits and one walk.

WILD CONTROL

Conley walked only one batter in 4 1/3 innings but he threw a wild pitch and hit three Braves batters with pitches - Freeman, Flowers and shortstop Erick Aybar. Daniel Castro replaced Aybar in the fifth after a low pitch from Conley hit Aybar's right foot in the fourth. The Braves said Aybar is day to day with a bruised foot and X-rays were negative.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Marlins: OF Giancarlo Stanton (right side soreness) missed his third straight game. He took swings in the batting cage and ''felt pretty good,'' according to manager Don Mattingly. Stanton did not take batting practice with the team on the field. OF Christian Yelich (back spasms) missed his seventh straight start but walked as a pinch-hitter in the seventh.

Braves: RHP Shae Simmons, who missed the 2015 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, had tightness in his triceps after three rehab appearances with Triple-A Gwinnett. He said he felt better Friday. He had hoped to come off the DL for his 2016 debut as early as next week. He now hopes to resume his rehab schedule within a week.

UP NEXT

Marlins: LHP Wei-Yin Chen (3-2, 4.61) will make his second start of the season against the Braves on Saturday. He did not receive a decision after allowing two runs in 6 1/3 innings in the Marlins' 6-3 loss to Atlanta on April 15.

Braves: Rookie RHP Aaron Blair will be recalled to start on Saturday. He was 0-3 with a 7.59 ERA in five games before being sent back to Triple-A Gwinnett on May 18.