Max Fried turned in a solid performance on the mound while Marcell Ozuna drove in three runs to help the Atlanta Braves to an 8-1 win over the Miami Marlins.
The Braves’ offense didn’t waste any time getting to work against Marlins lefty Trevor Rogers. Ozzie Albies singled and then came all the way around to score on a double by Austin Riley.
Fried came into the game needing to right the ship after a pair of poor outings to start the season. He walked Luis Arraez to start the first inning and later allowed a single to Bryan De La Cruz, but got Jazz Chisholm Jr. to ground out for his first scoreless first inning of the season. Fried made quick work of the Marlins in the second retiring the side in order.
The Braves missed out on an opportunity to add on in the third. Travis d’Arnaud led off the inning with a double and then moved to third on a single by Ronald Acuña Jr. Albies then sent a grounder to Vidal Brujan at short who fired home in time to get d’Arnaud. Riley then popped out for the second out. Acuña swiped third for his fifth stolen base of the season, but Rogers struck out Matt Olson to leave the runners stranded.
Fried retired five straight hitters before Arraez singled with one out in the third. However, he came right back and got Josh Bell to ground into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Fried retired the side in order in the fourth and the Braves’ offense got back to work. Orlando Arcia started the inning with a double to right center. Rogers retired d’Arnaud and Acuña on ground outs before Albies came through with a single to right to make it 2-0.
Fried retired eight straight hitters before hitting Arraez with one out in the sixth inning. He came right back though and struck out Bell and then got Burger to bounce out to Albies to end the frame.
The Braves added on to their lead in the seventh against the Marlins’ bullpen. Arcia doubled off the left field wall to get things started. After d’Arnaud grounded out, Acuña walked and stole second. Albies was hit by a pitch to load the bases. George Soriano struck out Riley for the second out and the Marlins would then go back to their bullpen for lefty Andrew Nardi who walked Olson to force in a run to make it 3-0. Marcell Ozuna then delivered a single to left to bring home two more runs to push the lead to 5-0.
Nardi walked Adam Duvall to load the bases again and was replaced by Burch Smith. Michael Harris then sent a grounder to Burger at first and beat his throw to Smith covering the bag. Olson scored on the play to make it 6-0.
Atlanta wasn’t finished as Arcia reached again, this time on an infield single, to extend the lead to 7-0. d’Arnaud finally grounded out to end the inning. The Braves sent 11 men to the plate and scored five runs to take a commanding lead.
Despite the long inning, Fried came back out for the seventh and retired De La Cruz on a fly out before allowing back-to-back singles to Chisholm and Avisail Garcia. That would be it for him as Brian Snitker would summon Pierce Johnson from the bullpen. Emmanuel Rivera greeted him with a single to give the Marlins their first run. Johnson struck out pinch-hitter Jesus Sanchez and then got Brujan to ground out to end the inning.
Fried came in needing a good performance and delivered allowing four hits and one run over 6 1⁄3 innings. He struck out four and walked one while throwing 84 pitches.
A.J. Minter tossed a scoreless eighth and the Braves added another run as Ozuna led off the ninth with a monstrous home run to center to make it 8-1.
Aaron Bummer retired the side in order in the ninth to end the game.
Ozuna led the way offensively for the Braves with three hits and also drove in three runs. Arcia also finished with three hits, including a pair of doubles. Acuña and Albies had two hits each. Acuña also stole two bases. Atlanta pounded out 14 hits and were 5-for-17 with runners in scoring position.
The series will continue Saturday with Chris Sale matching up against Marlins right-hander Max Meyer.
