New York’s J.D. Martinez changed the game in the ninth inning with a home run, breaking Atlanta’s bid for a combined no-hitter by Max Fried and two relievers.
Martinez’s homer, hit to right-center off Raisel Iglesias, came when the Braves were leading 4-0, putting an end to their attempt at a no-hitter.
Fried, the left-handed pitcher, managed five strikeouts and three walks. He held off the first eight batters before giving consecutive walks to Tomas Nido and Brandon Nimmo.
Although Fried retired the next 11 batters, he later walked Pete Alonso with one out in the seventh inning. J.D. Martinez then hit a deep fly to center, caught by Michael Harris II against the wall, followed by a strikeout of Jeff McNeil.
Fried threw a season-high 109 pitches, with 68 being strikes, throughout seven innings of play. In the eighth inning, right-hander Joe Jiménez took over, walking two batters but striking out Tyrone Taylor and Starling Marte.
The last time the Braves threw a no-hitter was on April 8, 1994, when Kent Mercker achieved it against the Los Angeles Dodgers. This no-hitter drought is among the longest in the major leagues.
So far this season, the only no-hitter was thrown by Houston’s Ronel Blanco on April 1 in a 10-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
