Fried launches a 3-hit homer and Ozuna to help Braves beat Cubs 9-2

Fried launches a 3-hit homer and Ozuna to help Braves beat Cubs 9-2 originally appeared in NBC Sports Chicago

CHICAGO (AP) — Max Fried struck out nine hits while throwing a three-hitter in his second complete game of the season, and the Atlanta Braves defeated Justin Steele and the Chicago Cubs 9-2 on Wednesday night.

Marcell Ozuna, Matt Olson and Adam Duvall were honored for Atlanta, which has lost five of six. The Braves went 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position a night after going 0-for-14 in such situations in a 10-inning series-opening loss.

Fried (4-2) retired his first 15 batters before Ian Happ hit a leadoff double in the sixth. Happ and Dansby Swanson placed eighth in Chicago’s other two hits.

Fried improved to 6-0 with a 1.18 ERA in six career starts against the Cubs. The left-hander earned his first major league win by pitching five innings of one-run ball in a 5-1 victory at Wrigley Field on September 3, 2017.

The 30-year-old Fried also finished a 5-0 win over Miami on April 23, striking out six three-hitters.

Steele was charged with five runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings. The lefty is 0-2 with a 6.53 ERA in four starts since returning from a left hamstring injury.

Steele (0-2) retired his first six batters before Michael Harris II hit a leadoff single in the third. Duvall then connected for his third home run, a 423-foot trip to center.

The Braves opened with six runs in the seventh. Ozuna hit a three-run shot from Jose Cuas with two outs, and Olson followed with a shot to right field for an 8-1 lead.

Ozuna hit his 15th home run to extend his hitting streak to 15 games. It was Olson’s seventh home run of the year.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Braves: After a bad day, C Sean Murphy (strained left oblique) is expected to serve as designated hitter in his second rehab game with Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday. … 3B Austin Riley (left side tight end) did some more work in an inside batting cage.

Cubs: RHP Adbert Alzolay (right flexor strain) has seen a doctor and is likely unable to pitch for at least two weeks. Alzolay missed part of September while on the IL with a right forearm strain. “It’s essentially the same injury,” coach Craig Counsell said, “one degree of the same injury.” … LHP Drew Smyly (right hip impingement) could make another rehab appearance after throwing three hitless innings for High-A South Bend on Tuesday. But the plan was still being discussed. Counsell said Smyly is expected to be activated no later than next week.

NEXT

Neither team announced their starting pitcher for Thursday’s series finale.

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