PHOENIX – The Atlanta Braves wriggled out of one jam after the next with a series of spectacular plays Sunday against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Nick Markakis had the best of the bunch in the game’s biggest moment.
The 35-year-old outfielder made a diving catch with the bases loaded to rob Wilmer Flores and end the eighth inning, helping the Braves hold off the Diamondbacks to win 5-3.
“I was on (center fielder) Ender (Inciarte), and all of a sudden I saw Nicky dive and make that play,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “It saved the game for us.”
It also wrapped up a 10-game road trip in satisfying fashion. Atlanta, which is off Monday after playing 20 straight games, has won three straight since being swept in a three-game series against the Dodgers in Los Angeles and dropping the series opener in Phoenix. The Braves started their road trip with a three-game sweep of the Miami Marlins.
Atlanta’s pitchers were in tight spots throughout their Sunday afternoon in the desert, starting with Max Fried’s bases-loaded jam in the first inning. Fried gave up Adam Jones’ two-run homer in Arizona’s three-run fourth inning, but the rest of the Braves’ pitchers limited the damage of Arizona’s 14 hits with a huge boost from their defense.
The tightest spot came with a one-run lead in the eighth inning, when the Diamondbacks loaded the bases with one out against Sean Holcomb. He struck out Christian Walker, and Dan Winkler got Flores to hit a diving ball to right field. The ball appeared as if it would fall, likely scoring two runs, but Markakis, a three-time Gold Glove winner, dove forward to make the grab.
“I don’t know if I’m expecting them, but not surprised when they happen,” Fried said of the spectacular defensive plays.
Fried (5-2) was hit on the left hand by a line drive and had to leave in the second inning Tuesday against the Dodgers. The left-hander did not miss his turn in the rotation and allowed three runs on nine hits with seven strikeouts.
Joahan Camargo and Tyler Flowers each had two RBIs, and Luke Jackson allowed two hits in two innings for his fourth save of the season.
Atlanta has won consecutive series in Arizona for the first time since 2003-04 after holding the Diamondbacks to 1-for- 9 with runners in scoring position on Sunday.
Jones reached 900 career RBIs with his homer for the Diamondbacks, who stranded 11 runners to lose for the sixth time in eight games.
“We kept striking back and giving ourselves a chance to stay in this game,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “Had some timely hitting, some good things were happening, but we just couldn’t get that big hit at the right time with runners in scoring position to really cash in.”
Arizona’s Zack Godley (1-3) was bumped to the bullpen after allowing at least four runs in four of his first six starts. His return to the rotation was more like a relief appearance.
Godley gave up three hits in the second inning, including Inciarte’s RBI bloop single to left, and fellow starting pitcher Zack Greinke pinch-hit for him in the bottom half.
“I felt good, I threw pitches where I wanted to,” said Godley, who expected to stay in the game longer. “I threw the ball where I wanted to.”
Greinke, one of the best-hitting pitchers in baseball, lined a single up the middle, but he was stranded after left fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. made a leaping grab on Jones’ hard-hit ball in the gap. Greinke is 2-for-4 in his MLB career as a pinch-hitter.
Camargo drove in two runs with a single, and Flowers added a run-scoring single off Jon Duplantier in the third inning to put Atlanta up 4-0. The runs allowed were the first in five MLB appearances by Duplantier this season.
Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman was a late scratch with a head cold and was replaced by former Calhoun High School standout Charlie Culberson, who went 3-for-4.
Acuna was hit on the left wrist by a pitch from Duplantier in the third inning, but he stayed in the game after being checked out by a trainer.
The Braves open a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night in Atlanta.