Braves lose 4-0 to Cosart, Marlins

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves have faced Jarred Cosart twice this season, and they are still looking for their first win against the young right-hander.

The Braves were shut down by Cosart and three relievers on Saturday night, losing 4-0 to the Miami Marlins. Cosart was helped by three double plays.

“It’s not often you see a guy, especially a starter, that throws that many cutters,” Braves third baseman Chris Johnson said. “He was good at it, working it inside, outside. It’s something we’ve got to get used to, him being in our division now, and work out a plan for the cutter.”

Cosart (3-1) allowed seven hits, struck out five and walked one. The right-hander, who was acquired in a July 31 trade with Houston, is 3-0 with a sparkling 0.65 ERA in his last four starts.

“This was exactly what we needed,” Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. “Some guys need that adrenaline. He wants it. He wants to help us get to the playoffs.”

The 24-year-old Cosart also pitched seven solid innings for Houston against Atlanta on June 26.

Donovan Solano hit a solo homer in the first and finished with three hits for Miami, which is 8-7 against Atlanta this year. Giancarlo Stanton had two hits and drove in a run.

Atlanta had won three in a row. Aaron Harang (10-9) yielded four runs, three earned, and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings.

“I didn’t feel as loose today as I have in the past,” he said. “I was getting ahead in the count but they were able to get timely hits in key situations. Obviously, Cosart outpitched me today.”

The Braves were one game out in the wild-card race at the start of the day.

Atlanta threatened in the eighth inning, loading the bases with one out. But A.J. Ramos struck out Andrelton Simmons and Mike Dunn retired Freddie Freeman on a groundout to first, preserving Miami’s 4-0 lead.

Steve Cishek then got three outs for the Marlins, completing the nine-hitter.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: Reliever Dan Jennings made his fourth minor league appearance on Friday since being diagnosed with a concussion on Aug. 8, pitching two scoreless innings. He has pitched seven scoreless innings in four rehab games. … Reliever Bryan Morris will rejoin the team when it returns to Miami following the series. He has a strained groin but will not be placed on the disabled list.

Braves: Reliever Shae Simmons said before the game he has not started throwing off flat ground. He has been on the disabled list since July 27 with a strained right shoulder. It does not appear he will return this season.

UP NEXT

The Braves and Marlins wrap up their three-game set on Sunday. Braves starter Alex Wood (9-10) has given up just 10 runs in his last six starts for a 2.23 ERA. Nathan Eovaldi (6-9) will take the mound for the Marlins. Eovaldi has faced the Braves four times already this season, limiting them to three runs in 21 innings in his first three starts before being reached for five runs in seven innings in a losing effort on July 23.

SEPTEMBER CAN MEAN OCTOBER

The last two seasons, the five teams in playoff position in the National League on Sept. 1 have been the five teams to qualify for the postseason. The last team not to make the postseason when in position at the beginning of September was the 2011 Braves, who lost their final five regular-season games. Both the Braves and Marlins currently trail the Cardinals and Giants for the two NL wild cards.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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