ATLANTA – Max Fried is finding it easier this season to command his fastball now that he has opponents worried about his slider.
“It was big,” he said. “I thought my fastball command was really good, too, for most of the night. Just being able to locate to both sides, up and down, was working really well with (the catcher) tonight. I got in a nice rhythm.”
Fried pitched six-plus innings and won his sixth straight decision, Tyler Flowers hit a three-run homer and the surging Atlanta Braves beat the Chicago White Sox 10-7 on Friday night.
Freddie Freeman drove in two runs and Ozzie Albies went 4-for-5 to help the NL East-leading Braves, who have won 10 of 12 to stay 5½ games up in the division.
Fried (15-4) faced the minimum before Eloy Jimenez reached with one out in the fifth on a slow-rolling single down the line at third. The 25-year-old lefty allowed five hits and four runs — three earned — and matched a career high with 11 strikeouts. He is tied with Washington’s Stephen Strasburg for the NL lead in wins.
Atlanta led 4-0 in the second. Josh Donaldson got it going with a walk and used a headfirst slide to score from second on Dansby Swanson’s single. Flowers’ 10th homer landed in the first few rows of the left-field seats.
The Braves went up 5-0 in the fourth when Albies doubled and scored on Freeman’s double. Atlanta led 6-1 in the sixth when Albies’ infield single scored a runner from third.
Chicago starter Ivan Nova (9-11) allowed eight hits and five runs — four earned — in four innings. He had posted a 0.94 ERA in seven starts since July 22, the best in the majors over that span.
Rays 4, Indians 0
In St. Petersburg, Austin Pruitt and three relievers combined on a five-hitter, Jesus Aguilar had a three-run homer during a four-run seventh and Tampa Bay beat Cleveland in a matchup of playoff contenders.
Athletics 8, Yankees 2
In New York, Jurickson Profar delivered two tiebreaking hits to atone for his role in the double-reversal of a double play as Oakland defeated the hosts.
Red Sox 7, Angels 6 (15)
In Anaheim, Mookie Betts’ went deep with two out in the 15th to lift Boston over the hosts.
Betts drove a cutter from Trevor Cahill (3-9) over the wall in left for his second home run of the game and 23rd of the season. It is the 15th multi-homer game of his career and second this season.
Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, who was hitless in eight at-bats, scored a run.
Mets 11, Phillies 5
In Philadelphia, Todd Frazier bashed a pair of three-run homers and tied his career-best with six RBIs as New York whipped the Phillies, snapping a six-game losing streak.
Rangers 6, Mariners 3
In Arlington, Texas, Rougned Odor snapped an 0-for-28 slump with an early game-tying RBI double, Danny Santana hit his 24th homer and the Rangers beat Seattle.
In Other Games
Twins 13, Tigers 5
Astros 7, Blue Jays 4
Cubs 7, Brewers 1
Nationals 7, Marlins 6
Orioles 14, Royals 2
Pirates 9, Rockies 4
Giants 8, Padres 3
Diamondbacks 5, Dodgers 4
Reds at Cardinals — ppd.
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Source : Baseball – The Japan Times