Associated Press
ATLANTA — Max Fried was hitless in five scoreless innings, Marcell Ozuna homered and the Atlanta Braves won their fifth straight game, 7-1 over the Miami Marlins, in a rain-delayed game on Sunday.
The defending World Series champion Braves have taken five in a row and 20 of 25 to move 33 games over .500, a season high. They are one game out of first place in the NL East after the New York Mets lost for the second straight time to Washington.
Atlanta is 61-24 since June 1, the best in the majors in that span.
“That was a pretty good homestay,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “Our starting pitching was very good, our bullpen was very good and that’s what we need to do. season). We have to keep rolling.”
Fried (13-5) didn’t allow a runner and retired 12 in a row, until Nick Fortes walked to start the fifth. Fortes was erased when a double play ended the inning before a 1 hour, 51 minute rain delay.
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Miami, which had three hits, has lost a season-high seven straight and has been held to two runs or fewer in eight straight.
Ozuna hit his 21st home run, a solo shot to right-center field, to make it 2-0 in the fourth.
The Braves added two runs in the sixth when Matt Olson walked, advanced to third on a single by Travis d’Arnaud and a fielding error by right fielder Brian Anderson and scored on a single by Michael Harris II. D’Arnaud scored on a wild pitch by Jeff Brigham.
Since becoming a full-time starter in 2019, Fried has 51 wins, second-most in the majors behind the Yankees’ Gerrit Cole (53). Fried improved to 3-2 with a 1.66 ERA in his last six starts. His career ERA against Miami is 4.94, but the Braves are 9-3 in his starts.
The Braves are 37-17 against Miami at Truist Park and 90-49 overall against the Marlins since 2015.
The Braves open a two-game series Tuesday in Oakland.
Braves 2, Marlins 1
ATLANTA (AP) — Robbie Grossman drew a tiebreaking bases-loaded walk against Steven Okert in the ninth inning, saving closer Kenley Jansen and giving the Atlanta Braves a 2-1 victory over the Atlanta Marlins. Miami on Saturday night.
Matt Olson singled early in the ninth to snap a 22-0 streak and advanced to third on a double by Michael Harris II. After Okert (5-2) intentionally walked Vaughn Grissom to load the bases and pinch hitter Travis d’Arnaud lined out a five-man infield, Grossman walked for the win.
The Marlins suffered their 30th career loss of the year, most in the majors.
Jansen, who leads the majors with 31 saves but has struggled to allow five earned runs total in his last four appearances, started the top of the ninth by giving up a leadoff single to Nick Fortes and an earned single to Brian Anderson before by JJ. Bleday walked with no way out.
After Jerar Encarnacion hit a sacrifice fly to tie the score at 1, plate umpire Mark Ripperger was injured by a foul ball and a 10-minute delay ensued. Jansen was replaced by Tyler Matzek (4-2) on a 2-2 count over Miguel Rojas and runners on first and second with two outs. Matzek retired Rojas on a pitch.
Jansen, who blew his sixth save opportunity, agreed with manager Brian Snitker’s decision to cut him.
“Yeah, I’ve never been in that situation before, being down for that long, especially throwing a very stressful inning,” Jansen said. “I will always respect the coach’s decision.”
Looking at his recent matches, Jansen blames his delivery for being out of control.
