Dietrich homers as Marlins snap skid, stay alive in WC

MIAMI — There’s still a heartbeat, albeit a faint one. The Marlins are still alive and kicking in the National League Wild Card race after snapping the Braves’ seven-game win streak with a 6-4 victory on Saturday night at Marlins Park.

With seven games remaining, the Marlins moved to within 4 1/2 back of the Giants for the final Wild Card spot, pending the outcome of their game on the West Coast.

Derek Dietrich knocked his seventh homer of the season, a two-run blast in the first inning that gave the Marlins a 2-1 lead. Dee Gordon collected two hits, stole three bases — giving him 26 for the season — and scored twice to help the Marlins build a 5-2 lead. He reached base four times, including two walks.

The Braves struck first on a first-inning RBI single by Freddie Freeman. Atlanta’s first baseman extended his hitting streak to 28 games, the longest active stretch in the Majors. Freeman has also reached base in 44 consecutive contests. Both are career highs. He also belted a solo homer to open the sixth inning as the Braves sliced into Miami’s 5-2 lead.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDMuch-needed insurance: J.T. Realmuto added an insurance run in the seventh inning on an infield single that scored pinch-runner Yefri Perez to give the Marlins a 6-4 cushion. Perez was in for Giancarlo Stanton, who is still recovering from a grade 3 left groin strain and led off the inning …

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