Field Level Media
Aug 1, 2019
Freddie Freeman and Adam Duvall homered and left-hander Max Fried earned his 12th win as the Atlanta Braves beat the visiting Cincinnati Reds 4-1 on Thursday in a game shortened to six innings because of rain.
Fried (12-4) worked six innings and earned the win. He threw one pitch in the seventh before the grounds crew scurried to cover the field for a rain delay that lasted 1 hour, 46 minutes.
The Braves now lead the National League East by seven games over Philadelphia and Washington.
Fried allowed only run on four hits and struck out four. He also picked a runner off first base. He earned his first career victory against the Reds and has won three straight starts. Atlanta improved to 15-8 in games that Fried has started this season.
Freeman delivered his 26th home run after Ronald Acuna Jr. doubled and Ozzie Albies singled to start the game against Anthony DeSclafani. It was Freeman's first homer since July 15 at Milwaukee.
Duvall, acquired from the Cincinnati Reds a year ago, added a solo shot in the sixth inning, a 435-foot blast to center field off reliever David Hernandez. It was his fifth homer since being recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett on July 27. He has homered in three straight games.
Freeman's homer turned out to be the only runs allowed by DeSclafani (6-6) in five innings. He gave up seven hits, with one walk and five strikeouts. It was the sixth straight game in which the right-hander has allowed three or fewer runs.
DeSclafani was making his first start against Atlanta since 2016, and his career record fell to 1-2 against the Braves.
Cincinnati scored its lone run in the second. Phillip Ervin and Jose Iglesias led off with singles. After a double play, infielder Jose Peraza, originally signed by the Braves, drove in a run with a hit to left field.
The Braves evened the season series to 2-2. The Reds won two of three against the Braves in April.
--Field Level Media