SAN FRANCISCO - Atlanta Braves left fielder Eddie Rosario became the team's second player in a month to hit for the cycle and Max Fried pitched seven strong innings to beat the San Francisco Giants 3-0 in a matchup of National League division leaders Sunday.
The Braves, who began the day with a one-game lead over the second-place Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East, ended their losing streak at four games. Atlanta, seeking its fourth straight division title, avoided being swept in the three-game series after losing 6-5 in 11 innings Friday and 2-0 on Saturday.
"It's been a good day, especially for me," Rosario said. "It was a really tough series for us with the Giants here."
The Braves took two of three from the Giants when they visited Atlanta in late August.
Rosario, acquired by Atlanta from the Cleveland Indians on July 30 at the MLB trade deadline, hit a double in the second inning, a triple in the third, a home run in the seventh and a single in the ninth Sunday. Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman hit for the cycle on Aug. 18 in an 11-9 road win against the Miami Marlins.
Rosario's cycle was the second recorded at the Giants' current stadium, which opened in 2000. Eric Byrnes of the Oakland Athletics achieved the feat on June 29, 2003.
Fried (12-7) allowed just three hits, striking out five batters and walking one.
"Max was awesome," Braves manager Brian Snitker said.
The 27-year-old left-hander has yielded three or fewer earned runs in 10 consecutive starts, and Atlanta is 8-2 in those games.
"What really makes him good is that his curveball is 25 mph slower than his fastball," San Francisco outfielder Kris Bryant said.
Fried and Giants starter Anthony DeSclafani (12-7) remained locked in a scoreless duel through six innings.
Atlanta's Austin Riley opened the seventh with a drive to right field, and Bryant, running at full speed, appeared poised to catch the ball in stride on the warning track before the ball barely cleared his glove for a double. Adam Duvall followed with his 36th home run of the season, chasing DeSclafani and extending his hitting streak to a personal best of 15 games.
Zack Littell entered in relief, and Rosario hit the first pitch he threw for his 12th homer of the season.
The Giants were outhit 11-4 and had their lead in the NL West cut to one game by the Los Angeles Dodgers, the reigning World Series champions who - like San Francisco - have already clinched a spot in the postseason.
"I feel like we've been playing great baseball, and (the Dodgers) have been matching us," Bryant said. "That's annoying."
Braves right-hander Luke Jackson, who was activated from the paternity list before the game and had not pitched since last Wednesday, worked a scoreless eighth inning. Will Jackson had two strikeouts in the ninth for his 33rd save of the season.
The Braves continue their western swing by opening a four-game series against the Arizon Diamondbacks on Monday night.