Max Fried allowed one unearned run on five hits over seven innings to help lead the Atlanta Braves to a 3-1 victory over the visiting Toronto Blue Jays in the opener of a three-game series on Friday night.
It was just the second win in his past 10 starts for Fried (9-8), who struck out eight and walked one. Atlanta (77-64) remained tied with the New York Mets, who beat the Cincinnati Reds 6-4, for the final wild-card spot in the National League.
Raisel Iglesias pitched around a two-out double and single to extend his scoreless innings streak to 24 1/3 innings en route to his 31st save, striking out the side in the process.
Marcell Ozuna went 2-for-3 and Jarred Kelenic and Gio Urshela each had RBI singles for the Braves, who also snapped a nine-game losing streak against the Blue Jays.
Kevin Gausman (12-11) took the loss, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out five. Gausman bounced back from a three-run, 40-pitch second inning to go six innings for Toronto (67-75), which suffered its seventh loss in the past nine games.
Atlanta took a 3-0 lead in the second inning, sending nine batters to the plate. Jorge Soler led off with a walk, advanced to second on a single by Travis d’Arnaud and then scored on a single by Kelenic. One out later, Urshela drove in d’Arnaud to make it 2-0 and send Kelenic to third. Michael Harris II then drove in Kelenic with a fielder’s choice.
Toronto cut the lead to 3-1 in the third. Nathan Lukes led off with a single and then advanced to second on a fielding error by shortstop Orlando Arcia. One out later, Lukes scored on a groundout by Vladmir Guerrero Jr.
The Blue Jays got the tying runs on base in the ninth against Iglesias when pinch hitter Joey Loperfido lined a two-out double to right and advanced to third on a single by Lukes. But Iglesias got out of the jam by striking out George Springer to end the game.