ATLANTA (AP) — Max Fried pitched seven strong innings and the Atlanta Braves beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 on Friday night.

Atlanta began the night tied with the Mets for the final NL wild-card spot. New York was playing the Cincinnati Reds.

Fried (9-8) had command of the plate all night, striking out eight and allowing just five hits. Toronto’s lone run was unearned, coming in the third inning on an Atlanta error.

It marked the 25th straight game in which Atlanta pitchers have allowed three runs or fewer, the longest such streak in baseball this season and the longest in Braves franchise history.

Raisel Iglesias pitched out of trouble in the ninth for his 31st save in 34 opportunities, extending his scoreless streak to 24 1/3 innings.

The Braves got out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning and never looked back. Jarred Kelenic, Gio Urshela and Michael Harris II had RBI singles.

This was Atlanta’s first win against Toronto since Aug. 6, 2020. The Blue Jays previously held a nine-game winning streak against the Braves, including a sweep of Atlanta in 2021.

Toronto starter Kevin Gausman (12-11) gave up three runs and six hits in six innings while walking three and striking out five. Prior to the loss, Gausman held the mark for fourth lowest ERA on the road in the AL this season at 2.52.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drove in Toronto’s only run.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: INF Bo Bichette (calf strain) is set to join Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday for a rehab stint before returning to the Toronto lineup.

Braves: INF Whit Merrifield returned to the lineup Friday after missing two games due to a concussion from taking a pitch to the back of the head, but left the game early after fouling a ball off of his left foot.

UP NEXT

Braves rookie RHP Spencer Schwellenbach (5-6, 3.69) will start against Blue Jays RHP José Berríos (14-9, 3.59).

The Atlanta Braves secured a crucial victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in a thrilling matchup that had fans on the edge of their seats. The star of the game was none other than Braves pitcher Max Fried, whose impressive performance on the mound helped lead his team to victory in the wild card race.

Fried, who has been a standout player for the Braves this season, delivered a masterful performance against the Blue Jays, striking out seven batters and allowing just one run over six innings of work. His command of the strike zone and ability to keep hitters off balance proved to be the difference maker in a game that was tightly contested until the very end.

The Braves offense also played a key role in the victory, with Freddie Freeman and Ronald Acuna Jr. each contributing with clutch hits to drive in runs. The team’s ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities and execute in high-pressure situations was crucial in securing the win.

With the victory, the Braves moved one step closer to securing a spot in the playoffs, as they continue to battle it out in a competitive wild card race. The team’s success can be attributed in large part to the stellar performance of players like Max Fried, who have stepped up when it matters most and delivered when their team needed them the most.

As the regular season winds down and the playoff picture begins to take shape, the Braves will look to build on their recent success and continue their strong play down the stretch. With players like Max Fried leading the way, there is no doubt that this team has what it takes to make a deep run in the postseason and compete for a championship.