Dee's leadoff HR sends Marlins on their way
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Dee Gordon's leadoff homer fueled the frustration R.A. Dickey experienced during a four-run first inning that propelled the Marlins to an 8-6 win over the Braves on Saturday afternoon at ESPN's Wide World of Sports complex.Gordon got the Marlins rolling when he drilled a knuckleball
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Dee Gordon's leadoff homer fueled the frustration R.A. Dickey experienced during a four-run first inning that propelled the Marlins to an 8-6 win over the Braves on Saturday afternoon at ESPN's Wide World of Sports complex.
Gordon got the Marlins rolling when he drilled a knuckleball over the right-field foul pole, and
"He's got a nice little foundation under him right now," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said of Gordon's approach. "We just need to continue to build on it."
Making his second start of the Grapefruit League season, Dickey threw more fastballs than normal and didn't have a consistent feel for his knuckleball. The 42-year-old right-hander retired just eight of the 16 batters he faced over three innings. He allowed five runs, but three of them were deemed unearned after first baseman Matt Tuiasosopo was unable to pick a throw shortstop Dansby Swanson made after ranging to his right to field Barnes' two-out grounder in the first inning.
"I didn't get a lot of swings and misses today, which tells me I didn't have the finish I normally do or like I did [Monday against the Tigers], when I got eight or 10 swings and misses in two innings," Dickey said. "Today, I might have had one. That gives you some feedback. I didn't feel great today, so that's probably part of it. I wasn't finishing pitches, but I got through it."
After their starting pitcher
Peters retired
"I think we see a guy who is confident," Mattingly said of the left-hander. "He's on the attack out there. He doesn't look like a guy who is afraid at all. I've been hearing about him since last year."
The Braves made things interesting with a five-run seventh inning that began with
Marlins Up Next: The Marlins return to Roger Dean Stadium on Sunday to face the Astros at 1:05 p.m. ET.
Braves Up Next:Mike Foltynewicz will attempt to further secure the last available rotation spot when Atlanta travels to Fort Myers to play the Red Sox on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. ET live on MLB.TV. Backup catcher
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Mark Bowman has covered the Braves for MLB.com since 2001.