NEW YORK — Raisel Iglesias initially would have been more upset about allowing J.D. Martinez to hit a home run if he had actually known he was one out away from the Braves' first no-hitter in 30 years. Maybe.
“To be honest, I didn't even know a no-hitter was happening,” Iglesias said through translator Franco Garcia. “When they called my name, I just went out there. To be honest, I'm a pitcher who doesn't put a lot of stock out there. I don't want to put unnecessary pressure on myself.”
Martinez's two-out homer in the ninth inning ended Atlanta's hopes of a no-hitter. But the Braves still have plenty of reason to feel good after Max Fried produced another gem Saturday afternoon at Citi Field, helping the Braves to a 4-1 victory over the Mets. there were.
Braves catcher Travis d'Arnaud said, “It's better to give up a run on a home run than on an infield hit.''
In the past two weeks, Fried has had one no-hitter ended with a home run and another with a soft ball that barely missed the infield.
Fried pitched strongly for six innings against the Mariners on April 29, but saw his no-hitter end when Joe Jimenez singled in the eighth inning. Things got worse when he allowed a two-run walk-off home run to AJ Minter in the ninth inning.
This conclusion was much more memorable. Fried's seven-inning, 109-pitch effort was undone by just three walks. Jimenez pitched eight innings with two walks. Iglesias then took two quick outs and allowed Martinez to take a solo shot over the right-center wall.
“It’s so cool to be a part of ‘Almost’.” [no-hitter]' or '26 outside,''' Braves center fielder Michael Harris II said. “Hopefully we can squeeze one in this season or in the near future.”
Fried's recent starts should add to the excitement of what he will do in his next few starts.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Fried is the first MLB pitcher to pitch at least six no-hitters twice in three starts since Blake Snell in 2021 (August 31 and September 7). He is the first Braves pitcher to do so since Kevin Millwood in 1999 (June 6 and 17).
Harris had three hits, making him 0-for-29, and in the seventh inning he made a spectacular running catch to keep Freed hitless. But Saturday afternoon, he also gave Atlanta a reason to believe its ace is back.
Fried was chased in the first inning of the opening game, allowing three earned runs. He allowed six earned runs in one inning in the next game. Fried then pitched 43 2/3 innings and posted a 1.85 ERA. That includes allowing four runs in seven innings at Dodger Stadium on May 5th.
“Baseball is a crazy game,” Freed said. “Personally, I feel like L.A. threw the ball better.” [than I did against the Mets], but the result was not there. Often it takes something to get your way. ”
After giving up a walk to Pete Alonso with one out in the seventh inning, Fried received relief. Martinez hit a line drive off his bat at 165.4 mph that found Harris' glove just before hitting the center field wall.
“I looked at the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning and realized I didn't remember anyone getting a hit,” Harris said. “So I knew I had to keep it to myself and try to get something out of it.”
Harris and first baseman Matt Olson both grew up Braves fans in suburban Atlanta, but neither seemed familiar with Melker. That's understandable to some extent. Olson was born a week before Melker recorded the club's most recent no-hitter. Harris arrived seven years later.
