MIAMI (AP) — Kyle Stowers ended a 31-game home run drought, Sandy Alcántara pitched six strong innings and the Miami Marlins beat the Atlanta Braves 5-3 on Sunday in the rubber game of their three-game series.
Otto López had two hits and drove in two runs, and Xavier Edwards singled twice, doubled and had an RBI for the Marlins.
Alcántara (4-8) allowed three runs and six hits, walked two and struck out four. The 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner has completed six innings in three of his last four starts.
Anthony Bender tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of Alcántara, Calvin Faucher got the last two outs in the eighth and Ronny Henriquez pitched the ninth for his second save.
López and Dane Myers hit run-scoring singles off Braves starter Bryce Elder in the fifth to put the Marlins ahead 4-2.
Elder (2-4) allowed five runs and 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings.
The Braves struck quickly against Alcántara on Austin Riley’s RBI single in the first.
But Stowers tied it at 1 with a solo homer in the second. It was Stowers’ 11th homer of the season and first since he went deep twice against the Chicago Cubs on May 14.
Atlanta retook the lead on Drake Baldwin’s run-scoring single in the third before Miami tied it again when López hit an RBI single in the bottom half.
Edwards hit a run-scoring single in the sixth to give the Marlins another two-run lead after the Braves narrowed it on an RBI fielder’s choice by Alex Verdugo in the top half.
The Marlins finished 6-4 in a 10-game stretch against NL East opponents. They are 12-12 against the division this season.
RHP Spencer Schwellenbach (5-4, 3.26) will start the opener of the Braves’ four-game series at the New York Mets on Monday. The Marlins begin a three-game series at San Francisco on Tuesday with RHP Cal Quantrill (3-7, 5.68) scheduled to start the opener.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
Atlanta Braves' Ozzie Albies advances to third base on a ground out by Michael Harrris II during the second inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Chris Arjoon)
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Bryce Elder throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Chris Arjoon)
Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Chris Arjoon)
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers are opening the practice window for star linebacker Fred Warner with the hope that he could return if the team reaches the NFC title game.
Warner has been out since breaking and dislocating his right ankle in a loss at Tampa Bay on Oct. 12, with coach Kyle Shanahan initially describing it as a season-ending injury.
But Warner has been rehabbing since then and even was able to run on a side field last week during practice. Now he will be back officially at practice as the 49ers prepare to play Seattle in the divisional round on Saturday night and could return if San Francisco wins.
“We’re not doing much so he’ll walk through out there with us today and things like that, but hoping he can be ready for next week,” Shanahan said Tuesday.
Warner's presence on the practice field even for a walkthrough provided an emotional lift for the 49ers.
“For someone who really set the standard here, I would do anything to play with him again this year,” defensive tackle Kalia Davis said. “We want him back out there.”
Eric Kendricks is currently manning Warner's spot at middle linebacker after backup Tatum Bethune got hurt but wasn't ready to talk about what Warner's possible return would do for the team.
“We’re aren’t going to talk about next week, right? We’ve got Seattle,” Kendricks said. “We’ve got to beat Seattle. Let’s pump our brakes. We have to beat Seattle this week. .. This is what meaningful football is all about.”
The 49ers have made it this far despite losing their top two defensive players to injuries early in the season, with defensive end Nick Bosa going down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 3 and Warner getting hurt in Week 6.
Warner has been pushing to make a return and if he can, that would provide a needed boost. But Shanahan said the final decision will be in the hands of the team doctors.
“If he feels good and tells me he’s good, I’m probably going to think he is and trust him to get out there,” Shanahan said. “But you can't always think with your heart and emotionally. So you ask doctors where he’s at, all the things that these guys have to pass, just protocols that we have in with just sprinting and jumping and things like that. He’s got to hit all those before we feel it’s safe.”
But Shanahan added that as soon as the doctors clear Warner, "obviously it’ll be zero decision on my part.”
Warner had been a first-team All-Pro three straight seasons from 2022-24 and made the squad in 2020. His 947 career tackles are the second most for the team, behind Patrick Willis’ 950, as far as records go back to 2000.
Warner had missed only one game in his eight-year career before this injury, sitting out in 2021 with a hamstring injury. He played most of last season with a broken bone in his ankle and still earned All-Pro honors.
Warner signed a three-year extension worth $63 million in the offseason, keeping him under contract with the team through the 2029 season.
In other injury news, safety Ji'Ayir Brown (hamstring) and Luke Gifford (quadriceps) all would have been unable to practice had the team held a session. Receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee), linebacker Dee Winters (ankle), guard Dominick Puni (ankle) and defensive lineman Keion White (groin, hamstring) all would have been limited.
Shanahan also said tight end George Kittle is set to have surgery on his ruptured Achilles tendon on Wednesday. Kittle went on injured reserve Tuesday and tight end Brayden Willis was signed from the practice squad.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
FILE - San Francisco 49ers middle linebacker Fred Warner is carted off the field during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, Fla., Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken, File)
FILE - San Francisco 49ers middle linebacker Fred Warner (54) runs to the locker room after pregame warm-ups before an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct 12, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit, File)
