ATLANTA -- If the Miami Marlins followed their original plan, Jose Fernandez would have been back at the hotel getting ready for Saturday's start. Instead he remained at Turner Field and wound up being the improbable hero at the plate.

The Marlins ace was called upon to pinch hit in the 12th inning and belted a two-run double to help Miami break a three-game losing streak with a 7-5 victory over the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field.

"We had talked about sending him home early," Miami manager Don Mattingly said. "As the game unfolded, he kinda wanted to stay because he thought maybe ..."

The Marlins had runners on first and second, but had used all their position players and opted for Fernandez, the starting pitcher for Saturday. Fernandez, a .222 hitter, pounced on a pitch from loser Casey Kelly (0-3) and split the gap to score Miguel Rojas and J.T. Realmuto with the deciding runs.

"That's always been like a dream, play the outfield or get to pinch hit like that," Fernandez said. "When it actually happened, it was like, 'Oh my God, we're really doing this.' My heart rate started ... The main goal was just try to hit a ground ball somewhere and get a run and go home."

Closer A.J. Ramos, who gave up the lead in the ninth inning, said, "He never ceases to amaze anybody. You kind of expect he's going to get a hit right there."

The winning pitcher was Nick Wittgren (3-1), who worked two scoreless innings. Dustin McGowan pitched a scoreless 12th to earn his first save.

The Marlins improved to 2-4 in extra innings and 7-3 against Atlanta. The Braves are 5-9 in extra innings.

The Braves rallied to tie the game 5-5 in the ninth inning when Tyler Flowers ripped a solo homer, his sixth, to lead off the inning against Ramos.

"Good timing on that," Flowers said. "I was just trying to be on time. That guy has good weapons. You hope to get one pitch and be ready for it. I was able to do that."

Atlanta's Erick Aybar singled and worked his way to third base with one out, but Ramos was able to get out of the jam by striking out Jace Peterson and retiring Chase d'Arnaud of a shallow fly ball.

Ramos had successfully saved his last 33 save opportunities.

The Miami bullpen had worked as planned until Ramos had his hiccup. Kyle Barraclough pitched a perfect sixth. David Phelps worked a scoreless seventh, striking out the side. Newly acquired Fernando Rodney struck out two in pitching a scoreless eighth.

Miami starter Justin Nicolino, who was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans on Friday, lasted only five innings in his return to the major leagues. He allowed four runs on seven hits, a home run, a walk while striking out one.

Atlanta starter Julio Teheran worked 6 2/3 innings and allowed five runs on 11 hits with six strikeouts. Teheran struck out the first two batters in the seventh before giving up a bloop single to Martin Prado and a run-scoring double to Yelich.

He was relieved by Chris Withrow, who allowed the go-ahead hit to Marcell Ozuna (four hits).

"It was a battle," Teheran said. "It was kind of a different game. You're going to feel the same way every game. You try to, but sometimes it's not going to happen."

The Marlins wasted no time ending Teheran's 23-inning scoreless streak. Derek Dietrich hit the second pitch of the game into the right-field seats for a solo homer, his fourth of the season and his second to leadoff a game.

With one out, Yelich doubled and Ozuna followed with his 17th home run of the season, giving Miami a 3-0 lead.

Atlanta got two runs in the second inning to cut the lead to 3-2. The Braves strung together four singles from Nick Markakis, Jeff Francouer, Tyler Flowers and Aybar, the last one to produce a run. The second run scored when Teheran grounded into a double play.

The Braves took a 4-3 lead in the fifth when d'Arnaud hit his first career homer, a two-run shot.

Atlanta center fielder Ender Inciarte had to leave the game with a slight groin pull suffered after stealing a base in the fifth inning. Braves manager Brian Snitker said Inciarte would sit out Saturday's game in hopes of being ready for Sunday.

NOTES: The Marlins added LHP Justin Nicolino from Triple-A New Orleans and optioned RHP Brian Ellington to open the spot. Miami also designated LHP Jo-Jo Reyes for assignment to clear a spot for RHP Fernando Rodney, who has been acquired from San Diego on Thursday. ... Atlanta INF Gordon Beckham will serve a minor league rehab assignment this weekend and could be activated Monday in Philadelphia. ... Miami has three players with 15 home runs before the All-Star Game for only the third time in franchise history: Marcell Ozuna (17), Giancarlo Stanton (15) and Justin Bour (15). ... Miami ace Jose Fernandez (10-3, 2.28 ERA) starts Saturday's game. Atlanta's starter was undetermined.