Braves win 3-0 behind Max Fried and Sean Murphy, but Royals still get to celebrate

ATLANTA (AP) — Max Fried pitched three-hit ball over 8 2/3 innings to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 3-0 victory over Kansas City on Friday night, but the Royals still got a chance to pop the corks on their first postseason berth since 2015.

Kansas City locked up an American League wild card when Minnesota lost to Baltimore 7-2, setting off a delayed but raucous celebration in the visitors' clubhouse at Truist Park.

“We’re just so proud of everyone," Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. said. “This is just the beginning of something special.”

It was a big night, too, for the Braves, who now hold a National League wild-card spot after the Mets and Diamondbacks both lost.

Sean Murphy hit a two-run homer for the Braves and Marcell Ozuna trotted home on a throwing error after his first stolen base since 2022.

The Braves and Mets are set to play a doubleheader Monday in Atlanta — a day after the scheduled end of the regular season — to make up two games between the NL East rivals that were washed out this week by torrential rain from Hurricane Helene.

“This is a big game, obviously. Every game counts,” Fried said. “Knowing that this potentially could be the last game that I pitched this season, I just wanted to do everything I could to leave everything out there and try to win.”

The Royals came in with their magic number at one to clinch their first playoff appearance since winning the 2015 World Series. They failed to take care of business themselves, holding off their celebration until the game in Minneapolis was completed.

Fried (11-10) came within one out of a shutout, giving way to Raisel Iglesias when the Royals put runners at second and third. Iglesias retired Salvador Perez on a flyout for his 33rd save.

It was Fried's first career start against the Royals.

“We knew it was (going to be) tough, watching him and seeing him over the years,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “He's got multiple pitches that are plus pitches. He uses them all. He very rarely falls into any sort of patterns. ... That was masterful pitching.”

Fried threw 98 pitches, 63 for strikes. He walked two and struck out nine.

“You know exactly what you need to do,” Fried said. “We had to win this game and I just left everything out there.”

Royals starter Brady Singer (9-13) allowed two runs on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Murphy homered on an 0-2 sweeper that caught the middle of the zone in the fourth.

“I'm obviously trying to get that off the plate a little bit more there,” Singer said. “I kept it in the zone and he put a good swing on it. If I could just get that ball further off the plate I like my chances a little bit more.”

Ozuna tacked on an unlikely insurance run in the eighth by stealing third. Caught off guard, Perez threw the ball into left field, allowing Ozuna to make it home to a giddy celebration in the Atlanta dugout.

“They gave him the base,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said with a smile.

FRIED FINALE

Fried has spent his entire career with the Braves, but he’s set to become a free agent after the World Series.

The left-hander recognized the significance of the moment as he walked off the field to a huge cheer from the crowd at Truist Park. Depending on how the season plays out, it could’ve been his final home game in a Braves uniform.

“Walking off and hearing that, it was emotional,” Fried said. “I am extremely thankful and very, very grateful.”

There has been no indication that the Braves are pursuing a new long-term contract with Fried, a two-time All-Star who is 73-36 over eight seasons with Atlanta.

“I don’t know what the future holds, but this is really all I know,” Fried said. “I do love it.”

TRAINER'S ROOM

Royals: 1B Vinnie Pasquantino (broken right thumb) was on the field during batting practice and will take simulated at-bats against reliever Will Smith on Saturday.

Braves: RHP Reynaldo López (shoulder inflammation) threw his second side session Thursday, felt good and will be activated to start Saturday, Snitker said.

UP NEXT

RHP Seth Lugo (16-9, 3.03 ERA) will start for the Royals in the second game of the series. López (8-5, 2.03) will make his first appearance since a start at Washington on Sept. 10. He lasted only one inning because of shoulder pain that sent him to the 15-day injured list. Lugo allowed two runs on three hits over seven innings in his last outing, a 2-0 loss to the Giants on Sept. 22.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. speaks with a reporter during a celebration in the locker room after a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., center has champagne poured on him by teammates during the celebration in the locker room after a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Atlanta Braves' Marcell Ozuna scores after an error in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Atlanta Braves pitcher Max Fried, center, hands the ball to manager Brian Snitker (43) after being relieved in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Atlanta Braves pitcher Raisel Iglesias throws in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies prepares to throw out Kansas City Royals' Tommy Pham at first base in the eighth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr., left, tags first base before Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson, right, stretches out to field the throw in the third inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., left, pitcher Brady Singer, center, and catcher Salvador Perez, right, meet at the mound in the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Atlanta Braves' Sean Murphy, center, celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Atlanta Braves pitcher Max Fried throws in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

DENVER (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit his 54th homer of the season, a towering three-run shot, after stealing his 57th base earlier in the game and the NL West-champion Los Angeles Dodgers powered past the Colorado Rockies 11-4 on Friday night.

The Dodgers designated hitter finished 4 for 5, which also included a pair of singles and a double, and drove in four runs. He now has 24 hits over his last 34 at-bats.

“Shohei, he put on a show,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

Ohtani is making a serious charge at a Triple Crown, leading the NL in homers (54) and RBIs (130). He raised his average to .309 to trail only the Padres' Luis Arráez (.314 after going 3 for 5 against the Diamondbacks on Friday night) in the batting-title race.

With his swipe of second base in the second inning, Ohtani passed Ichiro Suzuki for the most stolen bases in a single season by a Japanese-born player. Ohtani was wearing spikes featuring a picture of his dog, Decoy.

Ohtani's three-run blast in the sixth inning landed in the second deck at Coors Field. It was a no-doubter at the crack of the bat, with the sellout crowd instantly erupting, an early show before the fireworks display that awaited after the game.

“(Ohtani) hits the ball really hard because he swings hard and he’s a strong man,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “He’s a really unbelievable talent.”

His 408 total bases this season are second-most in franchise history. Babe Herman set the record of 416 in 1930.

The Dodgers are now 38-12 this season when Ohtani goes yard.

“He's locked in,” teammate Chris Taylor said. “He's definitely in a zone right now. He's feeling it. We're all just watching him continue to have a good year and he's finishing it strong."

Teoscar Hernández got things started for Los Angeles with a two-run homer in the first. Andy Pages also homered for the Dodgers, who arrived in town fresh off clinching their third straight division title Thursday. The Dodgers moved two games up on the Philadelphia Phillies for the top seed in the National League.

Ben Casparius (2-0) picked up the win for Los Angeles, going 4 1/3 innings, in a game where the Dodgers started reliever Ryan Brasier.

Cal Quantrill (8-11) struggled against the Dodgers' potent lineup, allowing six runs and two homers over 3 1/3 innings.

At 61-99, the Rockies need to win their final two games to avoid back-to-back 100-loss seasons.

A positive for Colorado: Outfielder Brenton Doyle stole his 30th base of the season Friday. That's the most by a Colorado player since Charlie Blackmon had 43 in 2015.

It was a fortunate coincidence the second-base bag needed to be replaced as Blackmon stepped up to the plate in the first inning. The switch allowed his walk-up song “Your Love” by The Outfield to play a little bit longer. The designated hitter/outfielder known for his bushy beard announced Monday he's retiring after 14 seasons — all with the Rockies.

The organization will honor him before Sunday's season finale. Blackmon had a single and two walks Friday.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: 1B Freddie Freeman didn’t make the trip to Colorado so he could rest a sore ankle. Freeman was on crutches and in a walking boot after leaving Thursday's game. The Dodgers also left SS Miguel Rojas at home due to a torn adductor.

UP NEXT

The Dodgers will send righty Yoshinobu Yamamoto (6-2, 2.96 ERA) to the mound Saturday night. The Rockies counter with righty Antonio Senzatela (0-0, 3.38).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

Colorado Rockies' Charlie Blackmon scores on a triple hit by Ezequiel Tovar off Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Ryan Brasier in the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani stretches before the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Gavin Lux, left, congratulates Teoscar Hernández as he crosses home plate after hitting a two-run home run off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Cal Quantrill in the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Teoscar Hernández gestures to the bullpen as he circles the bases after hitting a two-run home run off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Cal Quantrill in the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, left, gestures as he circles the bases after hitting a three-run home run off Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Anthony Molina in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani heads up the first base line after hitting a three-run home run off Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Anthony Molina in the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani steals second base in the second inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Decoy, the dog of Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani, adorns the spike of Ohtani as he steps on first base after hitting an RBI single off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Cal Quantrill in the second inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani steals second base in the second inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani singles off Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Anthony Molina in the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani tosses his bat as he heads up the first base line after hitting a three-run home urn off Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Anthony Molina in the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani gestures to the bullpen as he circles the bases after hitting a three-run home run off Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Anthony Molina in the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)