Things Looking Up for the Braves, 6-5

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves are hitting plenty of homers, and now they have someone who can actually hold a ninth-inning lead.

Adam LaRoche hit the last of Atlanta’s three homers, a tiebreaking, two-out shot in the eighth, and Bob Wickman got the final three outs to preserve a 6-5 victory over the Florida Marlins on Wednesday night.

Andruw Jones tied the score with a leadoff homer in the eighth. Three batters later, LaRoche won it with his 20th of the season, equaling his career-best output from a season ago.

The Braves are keeping themselves on the fringe of the wild-card race after getting off to a dismal start.

“These games really make you feel like it’s a playoff atmosphere,” LaRoche said. “It feels like the last game of the season, and it means everything.”

Atlanta struggled much of the season to protect late-inning leads, but Wickman appears to have settled the bullpen. Acquired last week from Cleveland, the two-time All-Star has three consecutive scoreless appearances for the Braves, adding two saves to the 15 he had for the Indians.

“It’s a good feeling having a guy who’s done it for many, many years,” said Atlanta Manager Bobby Cox, who wasn’t around to see the ending after being ejected in the eighth for arguing a checked swing.

Braves third baseman Chipper Jones returned to the lineup after sitting out three games because of a strained side muscle. He went 0 for 3 with a walk, ending a 20-game hitting streak.