Max Fried dominated on the mound, producing his first career complete-game shutout as the Atlanta Braves blanked the lowly Baltimore Orioles 3-0 in MLB.
Fried was the star of the show on Friday, allowing four hits in his first nine-inning complete game to fuel the Braves, who matched a modern-era, single-season franchise record following their 11th consecutive road victory.
The Braves pitcher needed just 90 pitches in the Maddux – which describes a pitcher tossing a complete-game shutout in fewer than 100 pitches, with Shelby Miller (94 pitches in 2015) the last Atlanta pitcher to achieve the feat.
According to Stats Perform, only three Braves pitchers have tossed a nine-inning shutout on 90 pitches or fewer since 1988 – Greg Maddux (five times), Tom Glavine and Fried (both once).
Travis d'Arnaud launched a two-run homer, while Braves team-mate Jorge Soler also went deep in Baltimore.
Royals hit homers for fun
The Kansas City Royals defeated the Chicago Cubs 6-2. Salvador Perez hit two of Kansas City's five home runs in the victory. It was the first time the Royals have ever hit five solo home runs in a game, according to Stats Perform. It was also the first time Kansas City have ever had three homers hit by a catcher in a game.
World Series champions the Los Angeles Dodgers prevailed 3-2 against the New York Mets to extend their winning streak to eight games.
The New York Yankees also stayed hot, winning their season-high eighth straight game by blitzing the Minnesota Twins 10-2. Luke Voit was inspirational again with a homer, four hits and four RBIs.
Bryce Homer crunched a two-run homer as the Philadelphia Phillies snapped a four-game losing streak via a 4-3 win at the San Diego Padres.
Sorry Orioles
Another day and another defeat for the Orioles. Baltimore have now lost by two-plus runs in 16 straight games – the longest streak by any team since the 1876 Cincinnati Red Stockings (18), according to Stats Perform.
The Toronto Blue Jays' hopes of reaching the playoffs took another hit following a 4-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers. Toronto have now lost six of their last seven games.
Anderson lifts White Sox
Tim Anderson was behind the Chicago White Sox's 7-5 victory at the Tampa Bay Rays. He hit a game-tying homer in the ninth inning before delivering the tie-breaking RBI single in the 11th.
Friday's results
Philadelphia Phillies 4-3 San Diego Padres
Kansas City Royals 6-2 Chicago Cubs
Atlanta Braves 3-0 Baltimore Orioles
New York Yankees 10-2 Minnesota Twins
Detroit Tigers 4-1 Toronto Blue Jays
Cleveland Indians 9-1 Los Angeles Angels
Chicago White Sox 7-5 Tampa Bay Rays
Cincinnati Reds 5-3 Miami Marlins
Boston Red Sox 6-0 Texas Rangers
Houston Astros 12-3 Seattle Mariners
Washington Nationals 4-1 Milwaukee Brewers
Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 St Louis Cardinals
Colorado Rockies 9-4 Arizona Diamondbacks
Oakland Athletics 4-1 San Francisco Giants
Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 New York Mets
Giants at Athletics
The Giants (78-44) and Athletics (70-53) will continue their battle in Oakland on Saturday, with Kevin Gausman and Sean Manaea the respective starters.
Warriors claim crucial road win amid Mavericks protest controversy, Morant and KAT return
The Golden State Warriors claimed rare back-to-back wins with Wednesday's 127-125 victory at the Dallas Mavericks but the game was marred by controversy after Kevon Looney's third-quarter uncontested dunk.
Stephen Curry scored 20 points with 13 assists as the reigning NBA champions secured consecutive wins on a road trip for the first time this season at American Airlines Center.
But the Mavs were left raging after Looney's uncontested dunk with 1:54 left in the third quarter from a Warriors inbound after a timeout, which Dallas had thought was their ball, meaning they subsequently lined up on the other half of the court.
Mavs owner Mark Cuban said they would contest the result of the game due to the incident which he labelled the "worst officiating non call mistake possibly in the history of the NBA" on Twitter.
Despite that, the Mavs could have won the game on merit, with Luka Doncic missing a two-point attempt under pressure from Draymond Green with 3.2 seconds left at 125-122.
That came after Curry's bounce-pass set up Green's three-point play, before the reigning NBA Finals MVP glided in for a two-point shot to open up the three-point buffer with 8.1 seconds to play.
Doncic, in his return after missing five games with a thigh injury, scored 30 points with seven rebounds and 17 assists. Doncic shot 11-of-27 from the field and six-of-10 from the stripe.
In Kyrie Irving's absence, 20-year-old guard Jaden Hardy was outstanding with six three-pointers in his 27 points.
The win is a major boost for Golden State's playoff hopes, moving to sixth in the West with a 38-36 record, while the Mavs drop to ninth with a 36-37 record, having lost five of their past seven games.
It was Golden State's first road win when trailing after the first quarter, having entered the game with a 0-20 record.
Morant and KAT make successful returns
Ja Morant made his successful return for the Memphis Grizzlies off the bench for the first time in his career as they won their fourth straight game, beating the Houston Rockets 130-125.
Morant returned after his NBA-imposed eight-game suspension with 17 points and five assists, receiving a standing ovation from the home fans upon his injection into the game.
Jaren Jackson Jr scored a season-high 37 points with 10 rebounds and Desmond Bane added 20 points as the Grizzlies clinched the Southwest division.
It was a night of returns as Karl-Anthony Towns was back for the first time since November due to a calf strain, scoring two game-winning free-throws with 3.6 seconds left as the Minnesota Timberwolves won 125-124 over the Atlanta Hawks.
Lakers stay right in playoff hunt
The Los Angeles Lakers ensured they remained firmly in the congested race for Western Conference playoff and play-in tournament spots with a 122-111 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
Anthony Davis scored a team-high 27 points including 20 in the second half, with nine rebounds, while Austin Reaves backed up Sunday's 35-point game with 25 points and a career-high 11 assists.
Devin Booker scored 33 points on 11-of-16 field shooting with six rebounds but seven turnovers for the Suns, who remain fourth in the West but with a 38-34 record.
The Lakers move up to 10th, just behind the Mavs in ninth, with a 36-37 record and LeBron James not far from a return from injury.
Raducanu exits in Miami Open first round against former US Open champion Andreescu
Emma Raducanu was bundled out of the Miami Open in the first round by form US Open champion Bianca Andreescu in a three-set match that lasted two hours and 35 minutes on Wednesday.
The Briton, who won the US Open in 2021, went down 6-3 3-6 6-2 in a genuine tug-of-war against the 31st-ranked Canadian.
Andreescu sent down seven aces for the match, including four in the first set along with 12 winners as she claimed an early lead.
Raducanu responded with greater aggression, securing the crucial break in the eighth game, before serving out to level the contest.
But Andreescu showed composure and quality in the big points in the final set, winning the final four games to round out the victory, sealing a second-round clash with seventh seed Maria Sakkari.
Andreescu finished with 32 winners compared to Raducanu's 20, while the Briton committed 40 unforced errors.
World number 42 Shelby Rogers edged out USA compatriot Sloane Stephens in just under two hours, winning 6-4 3-6 6-2. Rogers will take on second seed Aryna Sabalenka, who is arguably the tournament favourite after top seed Iga Swiatek's withdrawal, in the next round.
Rogers was one of five Americans to progress, including 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin who defeated Australia's Storm Hunter 6-0 7-6 (7-5).
World number 35 Amanda Anisimova retired down 7-6 (7-5) 5-2 to countrywoman Madison Brengle.
Leylah Fernandez, the player whom Raducanu beat in the 2021 US Open final, advanced into the second round with a 6-4 6-3 victory over Lesia Tsurenko in 88 minutes.
Astros second baseman Altuve to miss at least two months following thumb surgery
The Houston Astros' eight-time All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve will be out of action for at least two months following surgery on his fractured right thumb.
Altuve sustained the injury playing for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic last Saturday after being struck on the thumb from a pitch by the United States' Daniel Bard.
The Astros confirmed in a statement that the second baseman had undergone surgery and subsequently will not resume baseball activities at least two months.
"Altuve will remain in Houston since Spring Training is in its final week," the Astros statement said. "The Astros ballclub is set to fly to Houston following their Florida Spring Training game on Sunday in West Palm Beach."
The 2023 MLB season commences next Thursday, with the Astros opening their campaign against the Chicago White Sox.
Altuve was a key part of Houston's 2022 World Series-winning team, hitting .300 with 28 home runs, 39 doubles, 18 steals and 103 runs while earning his sixth Silver Slugger Award and finishing fifth in AL MVP voting.
The 32-year-old won the 2017 AL MVP – the same year he helped the Astros win the franchise’s first World Series championship.
Among active players, Altuve ranks seventh in hits (1,935), eighth in doubles (379) and 12th in runs (986).
He was the second MLB All-Star to suffer a serious injury at the World Baseball Classic after New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz tore his patellar tendon, ruling him out for the entire season.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
