Fried's pinch-hit single lifts Braves past Marlins 8-7 in 10

ATLANTA (AP) — Max Fried never thought he would get the chance for a game-winning hit. After all, Fried is a pitcher.

Thanks to Atlanta's depleted bench, it happened on Sunday. And Fried delivered.

The pinch-hitting pitcher lined a bases-loaded single up the middle in the 10th inning, and the Braves rallied for a wild 8-7 victory over the Miami Marlins.

“It’s something you always dream about happening, but when I knew I was going to be a pitcher I figured it would never be reality,” Fried said.

Fried isn't a normal pitcher. He is hitting .300 this season. He had 11 hits, including four doubles, while driving in four runs in 2019, when he hit .196.

“If Max wasn’t pitching he would be an outfielder in the big leagues,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said.

Fried was called on to hit with the Braves out of position players after a four-run rally in the ninth. He singled on a 3-1 pitch off Anthony Bass (1-4), driving in Dansby Swanson from third base and drawing his jubilant teammates out of the dugout.

“That was probably as good as I’ve felt on the field finishing out a game,” Fried said.

Fried's game-ending swing was a big surprise to Marlins manager Don Mattingly, who assumed the pitcher was hoping for a walk.

“I really was surprised that he swung the bat there but he’s actually a pretty good hitter,” Mattingly said.

With the bases loaded and one out in the 10th, Austin Riley was thrown out at the plate when he tried to score on a bases-loaded wild pitch by Bass. Riley was initially called safe before the umpires reversed the call on a review.

The Braves quickly recovered from that disappointment. Bass loaded the bases with an intentional walk to Kevan Smith before giving up Fried's single.

Miami opened a 7-3 lead with...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Fried-s-pinch-hit-single-lifts-Braves-past-16293295.php