Max Fried provided the Braves’ offensive spark Sunday.
Not only did Fried surrender only one run over six innings, but his single set up second baseman Ozzie Albies’ two-run homer off Patrick Corbin. The Braves kept the lead from there, securing a series victory with a 5-4 win Sunday against the Nationals at Truist Park.
Fried has a career-high 12 hits this season. He’s hitting .324, which includes two pinch-hit hits. Fried could become the first Braves pitcher to hit .300 or better (minimum 40 plate appearances) since Warren Spahn in 1958, per MLB statistician Sarah Langs.
“Whatever I can do to help the team win,” Fried said. “I want to go out there and put together good at-bats, quick innings. Whatever I can do when I have my opportunity to go out there, I’m going to leave it on the field. So whether it’s at the plate, on the mound, whatever I can do.”
The southpaw limited the Nationals’ offense to one run on seven hits. In the third, Albies’ blast gave the Braves a lead they never relinquished. The team padded its advantage with a three-run sixth that included third baseman Austin Riley’s two-out RBI double and outfielder Adam Duvall’s two-run homer.
Duvall’s homer, which was his second since rejoining the Braves, came one night after Jorge Soler’s latest home run. Duvall, Soler and Joc Pederson have combined for eight homers during their Braves’ tenure, adding much-needed pop to a lineup that was too top heavy for much of the campaign. Since the trade deadline, the Braves are 6-3. A player acquired via in-season trade has homered in five of those nine games.
It was Duvall’s fifth homer at Truist Park this season after he’d hit four with the Marlins. It was his 24th homer overall. He has a chance at his third 30-homer season and first since 2017.
“It’s so reassuring to me to see him out there,” manager Brian Snitker said about Duvall. “You just don’t worry about him. I can’t say enough about Adam Duvall the player, the person, how consistent he is, how he goes about it. I’ve loved having him back.”
Chris Martin recorded the save, allowing one run and leaving the tying run stranded at second. Martin was one of three relivers used following Jesse Chavez and Richard Rodriguez. While the latter struggled, allowing two runs on three hits and recording only two outs, Rodriguez followed him and pitched a scoreless 1-1/3 frames. The former Pirate hasn’t allowed a run in his five appearances with the Braves.
“That’s what (Pirates manager) Derek Shelton told me when we got him, that he can finish an inning and he’s good to go back out,” Snitker said. “In that situation, went right through the teeth of their lineup. Very valuable guy. And he’s so efficient with his pitches, too.”
One out prevented the Braves from their second consecutive sweep. Riley Adams’ homer off Will Smith on Saturday stopped the Braves from what would’ve been a six-game winning streak. The team instead settled for winning five of its last six, still a welcomed development for a club that was alternating wins and losses for over two weeks.
It also showcased the team’s resilience. The team bounced back following Saturday’s ninth-inning blunder.
“That’s awesome,” Snitker said. “Tough losses happen. That’s part of it. But still, when you’re going to bed, taking a nap and you’re right back here, it’s good to see how they bounced back.”
The latest victory moved the Braves to 57-55, a half game ahead of the Mets. New York has lost nine of 11 after getting swept in Philadelphia this weekend. After leading the National League East for three months, the Mets are in a freefall. The Phillies, meanwhile, have won eight straight and lead the Braves by two games with 50 contests remaining.
The Braves are off Monday before beginning a three-game series against the Reds on Tuesday. After the series, the Braves will have a prime opportunity to climb further over .500 when they embark on a three-city road trip against a trio of rebuilding clubs in Washington, Miami and Baltimore.
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