MIAMI -AP- Jose Fernandez became the first pitcher in the modern era to win his first 17 career home decisions, overcoming a rough start Friday to help the Miami Marlins beat the Atlanta Braves 12-11.
Fernandez gave up a homer to Nick Markakis to start the game and allowed four runs in a 35-pitch first inning. He tied a career high by allowing six earned runs in five innings.
But the Marlins rallied with four runs in the first, led 11-4 by the fourth inning and totaled 20 hits in the matchup of the majors' two lowest-scoring teams.
 
Fernandez 1st to win first 17 home decisions as Marlins beat Braves
 
Rookie Justin Bour hit his 20th homer, and Dee Gordon's three hits hiked his average to .332. Christian Yelich came within a homer of hitting for the cycle, and backup catcher Jeff Mathis had four RBIs to increase his season total to 11.
Fernandez (6-0) needed the support. He also needed 96 pitches to make it through five innings and qualify for the victory, which made him 17-0 in 26 home starts over his three-year career.
The previous record since 1900 was held by Johnny Allen (1932-33) and LaMarr Hoyt (1980-82), who won their first 16 home decisions.
Kyle Barraclough preserved the one-run lead by coming on to retire two batters with the bases loaded in the eighth. A.J. Ramos pitched around a leadoff single in the ninth for his 30th save.
Fernandez hit 98 mph several times on the radar gun and walked only one. But there were few swings and misses from the Braves, who reached Fernandez for six runs and nine hits, his highest totals in 10 starts since returning from Tommy John surgery.
Fernandez's ERA rose from 2.18 to 2.91.
Ryan Weber (0-2) allowed seven runs in two-plus innings for the Braves, who fell to 6-1 this year at Marlins Park. They're 56-91 everywhere else.
The Marlins improved to 15-8 since Aug. 31.
Atlanta led after only three pitches from Fernandez when Markakis hit his third homer in 583 at-bats. The next four batters singled, and soon the Braves led 4-0.
Miami quickly answered. The first five batters reached on hits, including Bour, who hit a three-run homer. The Marlins took the lead for good in the third when Mathis greeted reliever Ryan Kelly with a three-run triple.
Freddie Freeman, playing despite a sore right wrist, hit his 18th homer and singled twice for Atlanta.
 

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