ATLANTA -- Second time around with the bases loaded, the Marlins finally delivered.
Garrett Jones slapped a two-run single to center in the 10th inning that lifted Miami to a 3-1 win over the Braves on Monday night at Turner Field.
Jones' big hit saved the night for the Marlins, as they nearly let an opportunity to gain ground on the Braves slip away.
The Marlins have won two straight for the first time since July 5-6, and they moved to 7 1/2 games behind Atlanta in the National League East. Miami also claimed the first of four games at Turner Field.
 
Garrett Jones lifts Marlins past Braves in 10th inning
 
In the 10th, Christian Yelich singled off of Shae Simmons, and moved to second on Jordany Valdespin's sacrifice bunt. Giancarlo Stanton was intentionally walked. Casey McGehee drew a walk, loading the bases for the second straight inning for Miami. This time, Jones came through.
The Marlins filled the bases with no outs against Craig Kimbrel in the ninth inning, only to be turned away. McGehee walked to open the inning, and he moved to third on Jones' single to right. Kimbrel got ahead of Marcell Ozuna with two quick strikes, but then walked the Miami center fielder, loading the bases with no outs.
With no margin for error, Kimbrel got out of it, striking out Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Adeiny Hechavarria, who fanned four times on the night. The threat ended when pinch-hitter Donovan Solano, on Kimbrel's 27th pitch of the inning, lined out to second.
Atlanta had its chance in the ninth off Bryan Morris, but came away empty. Andrelton Simmons doubled with two outs, and pinch-hitter Ryan Doumit walked. But the inning came to a close on B.J. Upton's lineout to right.
Tom Koehler threw 6 2/3 innings, allowing one run while striking out seven. Miami needed a strong start because Atlanta All-Star Julio Teheran was dominant, striking out 11 in seven innings. Saltalamacchia's homer in the fifth inning was the lone run Teheran gave up. Neither starter was involved in the decision.
The 11 strikeouts matched a career high for Teheran.
Teheran held Miami hitless for 4 2/3 innings before Saltalamacchia's no-doubt home run. The towering drive to right was Saltalamacchia's 10th of the season.
In the fourth inning, the Marlins were denied a hit on a spectacular play by Simmons at short to rob Valdespin of a sure single to center.
Yelich became Miami's first baserunner when he walked to open the fourth. On a hit-and-run, Valdespin stung a sharp grounder up the middle. Simmons was moving to cover second, and lunged backwards to snare the grounder. From the ground, he spun and tagged second base to force out Yelich.
The Braves grabbed the early lead, pushing across a run in the second inning on Chris Johnson's RBI groundout to first. Atlanta threatened for more when Justin Upton and Jason Heyward each singled to open the inning. The Braves actually had second and third with no outs, when Heyward advanced to second on Stanton's throwing error, trying to nab Upton at third.
Koehler avoided deeper damage when he struck out Evan Gattis for the first out, and Johnson followed with his run-scoring groundout. Simmons tapped to third to close out the inning.
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com
 

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