The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Braves win with just 3 hits; Fried masterful
The Braves (4-3) returned the favor to the Rays by sweeping a two-game series at home with a win Thursday night. The Rays won two in Florida on Monday and Tuesday.
The details
Max Fried retired the first 14 batters en route to the win. It was another solid outing from Fried, who along with Mike Soroka have given the Braves a strong 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation.
At the plate
The Braves won with just three hits. Dansby Swanson extended his hit streak to start the season to seven and had an RBI. Adam Duvall and Marcell Ozuna, who walked three times, had the other hits.
On the mound
Fried (1-0) worked 6-2/3 innings allowing three hits and one earned run, surrendered when Luke Jackson allowed a double in relief. Mark Melancon recorded the save, his second in as many nights.
Notable
■ Fried has a 2.31 ERA across his first two starts (11-2/3 innings).
■ Duvall made a sensational running catch in left field to rob Jose Martinez for the first out of the ninth inning.
■ Left-hander Will Smith threw a side session Wednesday and is close to a run. He missed camp and the beginning of the season due to testing positive for COVID-19.
Quotable
“Very much so (I feel we have two special pitchers). Maxy quietly had some kind of year last year. There was a lot of attention given to Mike, but Max, you look at his year, it was pretty special too. That’s a pretty good feeling as an organization to have two young guys of that caliber — the makeup, the stuff, the people that they are, how they conduct themselves. It’s pretty special.”
— Manager Brian Snitker on Fried and Soroka at the top of the rotation.
Next
The Braves and Mets began a four-game series at Truist Park on Friday night. The teams play seven of the first 11 games of the shortened season. Go to AJC.com for coverage of Friday’s game.