Fried sharp, Swanson goes deep for Braves
ATLANTA — Max Fried gave up one run in seven innings, and Dansby Swanson homered and drove in three runs as the Atlanta Braves beat the San Diego Padres 5-1 Thursday night to spoil Cal Quantrill’s MLB debut.
The Braves led 2-1 before scoring three runs in the seventh off Luis Perdomo. Ronald Acuña Jr. drove in Charlie Culberson from third base with a pinch-hit infield single as catcher Francisco Mejia dropped shortstop Manny Machado’s throw when shifting to make the tag. Swanson followed with a two-run homer.
Fried (4-1) allowed four hits. He had seven strikeouts and gave up a fourth-inning homer to Machado.
Quantrill (0-1) overcame a shaky first inning to give up two runs on six hits and one walk in 5 2/3 innings. The son of former MLB pitcher Paul Quantrill and a 2016 first-round draft pick, Quantrill became San Diego’s fourth starting pitcher to debut this season. He was called up from Triple-A El Paso before the game.
Atlanta’s first three batters against Quantrill hit the ball hard. Ozzie Albies hit a triple to right field and scored on Swanson’s long fly ball. Freddie Freeman added an opposite-field double past Hunter Renfroe in left field but was stranded on second base.
Fried made his first career start against San Diego, the team that made him the No. 7 overall pick in the 2012 draft. The lefthander was traded to Atlanta as part of the 2014 deal that sent outfielder Justin Upton to San Diego.
The Padres loaded the bases against Jacob Webb with no outs in the eighth but couldn’t score. Josh Tomlin fielded Franmil Reyes’ weak grounder on the mound and threw to the plate to force Ian Kinsler for the first out. Tomlin then struck out Machado and Renfroe.
Acuña had been 3-for-19 in the homestand and was rested before his pinch-hit single. He stayed in the game.
Left-hander A.J. Minter, whose recent struggles threatened to cost him the closer’s job, pitched a perfect ninth in a nonsave situation.
Braves third baseman Josh Donaldson was held out for the second straight day with right calf soreness. Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said Donaldson was better and “hopefully” will start today.