Braves' Miller comes within 1 out of no-hitter
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Miami, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Shelby Miller came within one out of throwing the first no-hitter for the Atlanta Braves in more than 21 years.
His gem was followed within minutes by the opposing team firing its manager.
Miller's bid for history ended on a first-pitch fastball to the 27th Miami Marlins batter he faced on Sunday afternoon.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The right-hander could only watch as Justin Bour's well-struck hit whizzed past him on the mound and through the middle of the infield for a two-out single in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Miller, who had faced the minimum to that point, gave up another single to Dee Gordon on a ground ball behind second base before retiring Martin Prado on a pop-up to end the game.
The Braves won 6-0 for their second three-game sweep of the Marlins in Miami this season.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Obviously things didn't finish the way we wanted, but we got a sweep," said Miller. "And at the end of the day, I had a lot of fun. That's all that matters."
Within minutes of the final out, Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill announced that manager Mike Redmond and bench coach Rob Leary had been fired after a 16-22 start to the season.
Redmond, the former Marlins catcher, was in his third season as manager.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"We haven't played to our capabilities and we're hopeful that a new voice will spark and motivate our guys to get them going," Hill said, stealing a bit of the spotlight from Miller.
Atlanta has not thrown a no-hitter since Kent Mercker's against the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 8, 1994, and Miller (5-1) looked like a sure bet to end the drought.
Acquired from St. Louis on Nov. 17 and making his eighth start for the Braves -- including three against Miami -- Miller never appeared to labor as he threw 70 of his 94 pitches for strikes.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}He allowed only one baserunner in the first 8 2/3 innings, a leadoff walk by Marcell Ozuna in the second. Michael Morse later grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Marlins starting pitcher Henderson Alvarez had an infield single taken away in the third inning after the Braves won a challenge of the call at first base. Replays showed a bang-bang play after Alvarez hustled down the line on a bouncer to Pedro Ciriaco at short.
The Marlins did not hit a ball out of the infield against Miller until Adeiny Hechavarria's pop-up to shallow right field leading off the sixth.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Even slugger Giancarlo Stanton, who had three home runs in the series entering Sunday, could not find a way to get on base. He hammered a 95 mph fastball with two outs in the seventh but left fielder Todd Cunningham tracked it down in front of the wall.
The only time Miller appeared visibly apprehensive was when Ichiro Suzuki, with 2,871 career hits, came in a as a pinch-hitter with two outs in the bottom of the eighth.
Miller stepped off the rubber, then uncorked a fastball that sailed way inside on the former AL MVP. Suzuki hit a soft grounded on the second pitch and was out at first base by a step, preserving the no-no.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Before going back on the mound, Miller had to bat in the top of the ninth and was retired on a fly ball to right field.
Alvarez (0-3) was activated after spending more than a month on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation and lasted 5 1/3 innings. He gave up six runs on nine hits and two walks.
The righty retired the first three batters he faced before giving up three consecutive hits to start a five-run Braves rally in the second inning.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}He gave up six hits in the inning, including a two-run single to Jace Peterson and RBI hits to A.J. Pierzynski and Freddie Freeman.
Pedro Ciriaco had a sacrifice fly in the inning and later led off the sixth with a double. Cameron Maybin drove him in with a single to make it 6-0.
Game Notes
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Miller had four strikeouts. Atlanta has won all three of his starts against Miami this season ... The Marlins went 155-207 under Redmond. They lost six of his last seven games as manager ... The Braves have been no-hit three times since Mercker's gem, including once last season when Cole Hamels and three Philadelphia relievers combined to shut them down on Sept. 1 ... The last no- hitter in the major leagues was thrown by Washington's Jordan Zimmermann against Miami last Sept. 28 on the final day of the season. There were five no-hitters thrown last year, all in the NL ... Braves third baseman Phil Gosselin left the game in the fourth inning with a sprained left thumb. Ciriaco moved from shortstop to third base and Andrelton Simmons came in to play short ... The Marlins designated right-hander Nick Masset for assignment to make room for Alvarez, who also lost to the Braves on Opening Day ... The Braves went 4-5 on a road trip and will start a six-game homestand on Tuesday against Tampa Bay ... The Marlins host Arizona on Monday to open a four-game series.