Tuesday March 19th, 2024 7:47AM

Dietrich hits HR, drives in 4 as Marlins beat Braves

By The Associated Press

ATLANTA — Derek Dietrich's big day at the plate ended with a scary injury in the dugout.

Dietrich hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer and drove in four runs before being hit on the back of his head by a foul ball hit into his dugout, and the Miami Marlins beat Atlanta 7-3 on Sunday to avoid being swept by the last-place Braves for the second time this season.

Marlins manager Don Mattingly said Dietrich did not lose consciousness after he "got hit really good" by the foul ball hit by Christian Yelich in the ninth. Mattingly said the ball ricocheted off the dugout's back wall before hitting Dietrich.

Dietrich was knocked to the ground, where he remained face down in front of the bench for a few minutes before rising to his feet. He was escorted to the clubhouse, where he was seen by a doctor.

The team said X-rays were negative and Dietrich was to remain in Atlanta on Sunday night for further evaluations.

"Everyone's thoughts are with him," said Tom Koehler (3-5), who allowed three runs on three hits and five walks in seven-plus innings. "Hopefully it's just a headache and nothing serious."

Dietrich's homer landed deep in the lower section of the right-field seats in the sixth, giving Miami a 3-1 lead. The former Georgia Tech star added a two-run double off Eric O'Flaherty in the seventh inning.

Marcel Ozuna had two hits, including his 10th homer, to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. The Braves swept a three-game series at Miami on April 15-17.

A fielding error by Dietrich on Gordon Beckham's grounder to second helped the Braves score two runs in the eighth, knocking Koehler out of the game.

Julio Teheran (1-5) gave up three runs, five hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings.

Teheran allowed only one run in the fourth inning, on a fielder's choice groundout by Miguel Rojas, after the Marlins loaded the bases with no outs.

"He kind of regrouped I thought," Braves manager Brian Snitker said of Teheran. "He was right there until the homer."

Jeff Francoeur walked, moved to third on a double by Nick Markakis and scored on A.J. Pierzynski's fly to shallow left field to tie the game in the fourth.

BIG STAR, BIG CROWD

A postgame concert by country singer Chris Stapleton, a two-time Grammy winner, made the game a sellout of 50,247, though some seats remained empty for the game.

BLISTER BOTHERS TEHERAN

Teheran said he struggled with a blister on his right foot in the fourth inning, when he gave up his first run. He appeared to be favoring the right foot and was visited by assistant trainer Jim Lovell and Snitker before remaining in the game.

"I don't want to make an excuse," Teheran said. "But it was a little uncomfortable pitching with a blister. But putting that on the side, I didn't have my best stuff. It was one of those games that I battled and just made one mistake and it cost me."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Marlins: OF Giancarlo Stanton (right side soreness) took batting practice but missed his fifth straight game. ... LHP Mike Dunn (left forearm strain) had two strikeouts in a scoreless inning for Class A Jupiter. With Dunn on the 15-day DL, the Marlins have no left-hander in their bullpen. ... OF Christian Yelich (back spasms) was back in the lineup after missing eight straight starts but pinch-hitting in each of the first two games of the series.

Braves: RHP Jim Johnson (right groin strain) hopes to come off the 15-day DL after making back-to-back appearances Tuesday and Wednesday with Triple-A Gwinnett.

UP NEXT

Marlins: LHP Justin Nicolino (2-2, 4.37 ERA) will start when Miami opens a four-game home series against Pittsburgh on Monday night. Nicolino allowed two runs in six innings in a loss to the Pirates last season.

Braves: The 10-game homestand continues when RHP Mike Foltynewicz (1-2, 3.95) starts Monday's opener of a four-game series against San Francisco. Foltynewicz was 0-1 with a 5.68 ERA in two starts against the Giants in 2015.

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