Braves Today

Braves Mash Past Marlins While Max Fried Pitches a Gem

The Atlanta Braves turned the clock back to 2023 with a vintage all-around performance

Lindsay Crosby

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Max Fried looked like his old self against the Miami Marlins tonight, allowing only one run in 6.1 innings.
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Max Fried looked like his old self against the Miami Marlins tonight, allowing only one run in 6.1 innings. / Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
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The Atlanta Braves used a big seventh inning to take game one against the Miami Marlins by the score of 8-1. 

Here’s what you need to know about from the contest:

Max Fried is SO back

Altanta’s top lefty starter struggled mightily in his first two starts of the year, going five combined innings with eleven runs (ten earned) on twelve hits, walking four and striking out six. The first inning was particularly troublesome for Fried, with all but one of the earned runs coming in the initial frames of those starts, once of which Fried didn’t finish. 

But today? Today was vintage Max Fried. The lefty went six and a third innings, allowing one run on four hits, striking out four and walking one on eighty four pitches (fifty-nine strikes). He left the game with one out in the 7th after back to back one-out singles, with one of those runners coming around to score against reliever Pierce Johnson. 

Yeah, I’m thinking he’s back.

Atlanta’s offense plagued by missed opportunities early

The Braves offense had some bad luck in this one. Atlanta had twelve of the thirteen hardest-hit balls in the game, but the three hardest - a Travis d’Arnaud grounder at 109.3 and Michael Harris II batted balls at 108.2 (lineout) & 106.8 (GIDP) were all outs, with the two hardest having expected batting averages of .640 or higher.  

The Braves also hit five doubles, with several being homeruns if the team were playing in a different park - Matt Olson’s that led off the sixth that would have been out in 14 ballparks, while Arcia’s leadoff double in the 7th would have been out in 19 - but both bounced off the centerfield wall. 

Atlanta had scored two runs by the seventh inning despite outhitting Miami eight to two, thanks to going only 2-12 with runners in scoring position entering the seventh. 

Marcell Ozuna continues to drive the offense 

We talked just yesterday about how hot Marcell Ozuna’s been offensively since his big series in this ballpark last May. The Big Bear continued his timely hitting in this one, breaking the game open with a two-RBI single in the 7th inning after Atlanta loaded the bases, doubling the lead to 4-0. The Braves went on to bat around in the inning, scoring five total runs and running away with it. 

Ozuna added a long homer in the 9th inning, coming off the bat at 115 mph and traveling 446 feet to center field.

Other top performers on Friday include shortstop Orlando Arcia, who picked up three hits (two doubles), two runs and an RBI, while Ozzie Albies went two for four with two runs and an RBI. Ronald Acuña Jr stole two bases, giving him six in the season’s first twelve games.  

What’s next for the Atlanta Braves?

Atlanta’s back at it tomorrow for game two against the Miami Marlins, with Chris Sale taking on Max Meyer. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 PM.

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Lindsay Crosby
LINDSAY CROSBY

Managing Editor for Braves Today and the 2023 IBWAA Prospects/Minors Writer of the Year. You can reach him at contact@bravestoday.com

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