Marlins Shock Braves, Glavine
Returning to the site of his career-threatening injury, Alex Fernandez wore the look of satisfaction Tuesday night.
Fernandez allowed only three hits in eight innings to beat Tom Glavine, who gave up a career-high 15 hits as the Florida Marlins beat the Atlanta Braves 5-2.
"I knew I was going to pitch here at some point," said Fernandez, who did not surrender a hit until Chipper Jones' solo homer with one out in the fourth.
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"So many other things happen that I'm just grateful to be out here pitching in the major leagues," he said.
Fernandez, who missed the entire 1998 season following reconstructive surgery, struck out five and walked one, throwing 98 pitches two under his limit.
"He changed speeds and locations," Marlins manager John Boles said. "That was the big deal."
Matt Mantei pitched the ninth for his 10th save in 12 chances, but Fernandez was anxious in the Florida dugout. Boles originally planned to allow Fernandez to start the final inning, but the pitcher doubled to start off the top of the ninth.
Mantei gave up a one-out single to Jones, who took third one out later when second baseman Luis Castillo booted Ryan Klesko's grounder for an error. Fernandez felt frustrated.
"I was out there cheering Matty on," said Fernandez, who destroyed a clubhouse television earlier this year in Miami after his bullpen blew a lead. "For me, the defense played so great all night. That was the key."
Glavine (7-8), who had won his previous four starts, lost for the first time since June 5 at Boston. He allowed all five runs and three walks in seven innings.
"I made some mistakes, but I don't think I made 15 mistakes," Glavine said. "When I made a good pitch, it seems it was a ground ball in the hole. When I made a bad pitch, it was a live drive. When you give up thamany hits, you don't expect to be in the ballgame for long."
Former-Brave Danny Bautista homered in the second, and the Marlins made it 3-0 in the third on a bases-loaded walk to Preston Wilson and Bautista's sacrifice fly.
Dave Berg hit an RBI single in the fourth and Mike Redmond added a run-scoring single in the fifth. Redmond was 2-for-3 against Glavine and is 9-for-12 against him in his career.
"I thought they did a good job of hitting the ball to the opposite field," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "That was it."
Ryan Klesko tripled in the seventh and scored on Andruw Jones' grounder.
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