By: Seth Waithe
ATLANTA — Marcell Ozuna broke a scoreless tie with his 16th homer in the seventh inning, Max Fried pitched eight strong innings, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Washington Nationals 2-0 on Tuesday night to tie the series at one win apiece.
Fried (5-2) allowed seven hits, one walk, and struck out six while finishing just three outs shy of his second consecutive complete game and third of the season. He credited the team’s defense, which set a season high by turning four double plays.
“Not much you can say besides our defense was amazing,” Fried said. “Some incredible plays.”
Fried was aided by double plays in the first, fourth, sixth, and seventh innings, as well as his pickoff of Jesse Winker following Winker’s leadoff single in the fifth. Joey Meneses had three singles but was erased by double plays in the fourth and seventh innings.
Embed from Getty Images“Some tough ones, too,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker. “They weren’t just routine double plays.” He acknowledged that Fried is a special player.
Fried outlasted Washington’s right-handed pitcher Jake Irvin, who set a career high with his 10th strikeout when Austin Riley ended the sixth inning by striking out for the third time. Irvin allowed only two hits, two walks, and no runs in six innings.
Ozuna greeted Jacob Barnes (2-2) by lining the go-ahead homer into the left field seats to open the seventh. Matt Olson followed with a single to left field, moved to third on Sean Murphy’s one-out single, and scored on Jarred Kelenic’s sacrifice fly.
Raisel Iglesias recorded the final three outs for his 13th save.
Anticipating a strong game from Fried, Nationals manager Dave Martinez loaded his lineup with right-handed hitters, including Meneses.
“He’s been good,” said Martinez of Fried. “He’s coming off a complete game and pitching well.”
Snitker continued to tweak his lineup following Ronald Acuña Jr.’s season-ending torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on Sunday. Michael Harris II drew two walks as the leadoff hitter after Snitker tried Ozzie Albies in Acuña’s usual spot atop the lineup on Monday.
Ozuna has been the constant in an offense that has struggled even before losing Acuña.
“I have confidence all the time,” Ozuna said. “We have a very good team. We just lost Acuña. We can do nothing about it.”
INTERESTING FACTS
Nationals: OF James Wood, one of Washington’s top prospects, was placed on the seven-day injured list at Triple-A Rochester with right hamstring tightness. Wood, 21, is hitting .355 with nine homers and 10 stolen bases.
Braves: Fans received Acuña 2023 NL MVP bobbleheads in the second game after Acuña’s injury. The absence of Acuña on the field didn’t diminish interest in the giveaway. Attendance was 37,589, with a long line of fans before the gates opened.
FUTURE PRODIGY?
RHP Spencer Schwellenbach will be recalled from Double-A Mississippi to make his major league debut for Atlanta against Washington’s LHP MacKenzie Gore (3-4, 3.04 ERA). Schwellenbach, 23, was a second-round draft pick from Nebraska in 2021 and has a 4-1 record with a 1.80 ERA in eight games with High-A Rome and Mississippi this season. “He’s a college guy who has gotten results,” Snitker said. “It’s kind of attractive when you get guys out. That’s the way you get noticed.”
