The Marlins' pitching depth has taken real hits this year, with multiple relievers and two of their young starters shelved, which put extra weight on Pérez to go deep and keep the bullpen fresh. Atlanta's relief corps has its own injury issues, but with the lineup clicking the way it has, Walt Weiss hasn't needed to lean on it as hard.
It didn't take long for Atlanta to answer the bell. A 3-run second inning followed by another run in the third put Miami in an early hole, and Pérez never found the footing that's made him effective in his last couple of turns through the rotation.
Elder, meanwhile, did what he's done for most of the second half — pound the zone and let his defense work. The Marlins scratched across a single run in the fifth and that was it; Atlanta's offense didn't need much more than the early cushion against a Miami bullpen that's been running on fumes.
This one extended the Braves' winning streak to a season high, and it's the kind of stretch that changes how a season feels even if the standings gap with the division leaders hasn't fully closed. For Miami, the two losses to open this series are a reminder that the roster gaps — particularly on the pitching staff — are real, even with a lineup that's shown flashes against lesser competition.