Ozuna’s 16th home run in 7th breaks scoreless tie as Fried and Braves blank Nationals 2-0

ATLANTA (AP) — Marcell Ozuna broke a scoreless tie with his 16th circuit in the seventh, Max Fried pitched eight solid innings and the Atlanta Braves beat the Washington Nationals 2-0 on Tuesday night.

Fried (5-2) allowed seven hits with one walk and six strikeouts while finishing three outs short of his second straight complete game and third of the season.

Fried outlasted Washington right-hander Jake Irvin, who set a career high with his 10th strikeout when Austin Riley ended the sixth inning by fanning for the third time. Irvin allowed just two hits with two walks and no runs in six innings.

Ozuna greeted Jacob Barnes (2-2) by lining the home run into the left field seats to open the seventh. Matt Olson followed with a single to left field, advanced to third on Sean Murphy’s one-out single and scored on Jarred Kelenic’s sacrifice fly.

Fried was aided by double plays turned by his defense in the first, fourth, sixth and seventh innings and by his pick of Jesse Winker after Winker’s leadoff single in the fifth. Joey Meneses had three singles but was erased by double plays in the fourth and seventh innings.

Raisel Iglesias recorded the final three outs for his 13th save.

Braves manager Brian Snitker continued to tweak his roster after Ronald Acuña Jr. season-ending anterior cruciate ligament tear left knee on Sunday. Michael Harris II drew two walks as the leadoff hitter after Snitker tried Ozzie Albies in Acuna’s usual spot at the top of the lineup Monday.

TRAINERS ROOM

Nationals: OF James Wood, one of Washington’s top prospects, was placed on the seven-day injured list at Triple-A Rochester because of a strained right hamstring. Wood, 21, is hitting .355 with nine home runs and 10 stolen bases.

Braves: Fans received Acuña 2023 NL MVP figurines in the second game after Acuña’s injury. Acuña’s absence on the field did not detract from interest in the contest, as there was a long line of supporters before the gates opened.

FOLLOWING

RHP Spencer Schwellenbach will be recalled from Double-A Mississippi to make his major league debut for Atlanta against Washington LHP MacKenzie Gore (3-4, 3.04 ERA). Schwellenbach, 23, was a 2021 second-round pick by Nebraska who went 4-1 with a 1.80 ERA in eight games with High-A Rome and Mississippi this season. “He’s a student who got results,” Snitker said. “It’s pretty attractive when you get guys out. That’s how you get noticed.

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