One run was all it took on Friday night as Brian McCann and the Braves beat the Marlins 1-0. It was Atlanta’s eighth straight win over their divisional foes and ninth in 10 tries.
With the score still 0-0 in the bottom of the 9th, Freddie Freeman greeted José Quijada with a first-pitch double to the left-center gap. The Marlins would intentionally walk Josh Donaldson to face Nick Markakis, who tapped a ball weakly back to the mound but managed to advance Donaldson and Freeman to second and third. Another intentional walk to Austin Riley loaded the bases for McCann in a lefty-lefty matchup with Quijada. McCann didn't wait long, lining a first pitch fastball into left field for the win.
BMac called game.#ChopOn pic.twitter.com/6XcMqgRq45
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 6, 2019
Luke Jackson worked the top of the ninth and surrendered a leadoff double, but unlike the Braves, the Marlins were unable to capitalize on it as Jackson struck out the next two batters before getting Brian Anderson to line out to Austin Riley on the warning track.
Before the rain, it was a pitcher’s duel throughout the night as Julio Teheran went toe-to-toe with impressive rookie Jordan Yamamoto.
Teheran tossed six scoreless frames, continuing to work around traffic jams throughout as he has done so frequently in 2019. He ended the night throwing 103 pitches (66 strikes) and surrendered five hits and two walks while striking out six.
Yamamoto was as-advertised, working all of his pitches to all parts of the zone and keeping the Braves’ hitters off balance throughout the night. McCann broke up a no-hit bid in the fifth. The only rally the Braves would mount against Yamamoto was in the sixth as Matt Joyce walked and Ronald Acuña Jr. singled to lead off the frame, but a double play and comebacker to the mound ended the threat.
A scoreless seventh inning passed before the rain came for nearly 2.5 hours.
The series will continue on Saturday afternoon as Max Fried takes the mound against Caleb Smith, who will be making his first start in exactly one month due to injury. First pitch is set for 4:10 p.m. ET.