Stanton clouted a two-run homer and possibly saved two runs with a diving catch and the Marlins beat the Braves 8-4. It was Miami's 12th win in 15 games in the month of May. That followed an 8-and-14 start in April.
The Marlins led 6-1 off struggling Braves left-hander Mike Minor before Atlanta scored three runs off Mark Buehrle in the sixth.
Stanton's eighth homer, which drove in Austin Kearns after his second double of the game, pushed the lead to 8-4 in the seventh.
Buehrle gave up four runs on six hits in six innings with the win in the first meeting of the season between the NL East rivals. Buehrle picked up his third win of the season.
In other state sports news...
- Jeremy Hellickson and three relievers combined on a seven-hitter as the Tampa Bay Rays opened a two-game series with Boston, beating the Red Sox 2-1. Hellickson, who's now 4-0, allowed five hits and one run in six solid innings and struck out six. Luke Scott had a tie-breaking sacrifice fly in the sixth inning. Tampa Bay second baseman Will Rhymes left the game in the eighth inning after being hit by a pitch near his right elbow. Rhymes fainted while on base, but he's said to be fine.
- The Indiana-Miami NBA playoff series shifts to Indianapolis for Game three tonight. The two teams are tied 1-1. The Pacers now have homecourt advantage. The Heat will be playing their second straight game without forward Chris Bosh, who's out with an abdominal strain.
- Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner John Swofford says the possibility of Florida State leaving the league was not brought up during this week's meetings in Amelia Island. Swofford says Florida State's situation ``wasn't brought up in any formal way'' and says the meetings were ``business as usual.'' He says FSU is still a valuable member of the league.
