Jose Fernandez outduels Alex Wood as Atlanta Braves fall to Miami Marlins in pitching classic

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez (16) throws a pitch against the Atlanta Braves in the second inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The game between the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins that looked like a terrific pitching match-up on paper didn’t disappoint, in what turned out to be one of the most dominating games by two opposing pitchers in quite some time.

For the second straight game, Alex Wood pitched eight innings while allowing only one earned run, and for the second straight game, he would pick up the loss. Wood was fantastic, allowing only four hits in those eight innings of work, and striking out eleven. The only run of the game came in the fourth inning, when Giancarlo Stanton hit a one out double, and Casey McGehee followed with an RBI single.

Despite Wood’s performance, Miami starter Jose Fernandez was even better. He only allowed three hits in his eight innings, while striking out fourteen Atlanta batters. Neither pitcher allowed a walk, making the totals for the game 28 strikeouts, and zero walks (David Carpenter had two strikeouts for the Braves in the ninth and Steve Cishek had one for the Marlins as he picked up the save).

For the Braves offensively, Jason Heyward led the game off with a single, and that was the last hit the Braves recorded until the eighth inning. That inning provided the Braves with their best scoring chance as Chris Johnson led the inning off with a single, and later in the inning, Andrelton Simmons hit an infield single with two outs. Fernandez then got pinch hitter Ryan Doumit to tap back to the pitcher to end the inning.

The Braves will look to take the finale tomorrow and win the series, as Aaron Harang takes the mound against Nate Eovaldi. Game time is set for 12:10 ET.