ATLANTA - Max Fried boosted Atlanta's depleted rotation by allowing only one run in six innings, Austin Riley hit a three-run homer and the Braves beat the Toronto Blue Jays 10-1 on Tuesday night.
Riley pulled a 3-2 pitch from Matt Shoemaker into the Blue Jays' bullpen behind the left-field wall in the fifth inning.
It was the third homer of the night allowed by Shoemaker (0-1), following shots by Matt Adams and Tyler Flowers in the second.
Fried (2-0) was thrust into the role of staff ace when Mike Soroka tore his right Achilles' tendon on Monday night, ending his season.
"I'm sure he had some emotions with his buddy going down last night, and I'm sure he felt he needed to step up and he sure did," Braves manager Brian Snitker said.
Fried downplayed his new designation as staff ace.
"We've got a lot of really good guys," he said.
Flowers said Fried now is the clear leader.
"When Soroka was healthy, it was 1A and 1B," he said.
AP photo by John Bazemore / Atlanta Braves starter Max Fried pitches during Tuesday's home win against the Toronto Blue Jays.Adams' homer had a splash landing in the waterfall pool behind the center-field fence in Truist Park. Flowers' shot landed in the first row of the left-field seats.
The Blue Jays played their first game since Thursday. Their weekend series against the Philadelphia Phillies was postponed in this coronavirus-interrupted season.
"I don't want to come in here and make excuses, but it is hard when you go and then stop," manager Charlie Montoyo said.
Shoemaker gave up six hits and six runs in 4 2/3 innings in his first start since July 25.
"It was frustrating," Shoemaker said. "I hate to even say this, but it's frigging hard to do it on 10 days' rest. It is all about timing and control. I need to man up, though, and make better pitches."
Fried gave up only four hits, including a leadoff double by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the fifth. Guerrero scored when Anthony Alford's ball bounced off Riley's glove at third base and into left field for a single.
Dansby Swanson's eighth-inning double off Wilmer Font drove in Ronald Acuña Jr. and Ender Inciarte, who each had two hits. Adam Duvall and Johan Camargo also drove in runs in the four-run inning.
The Braves haven't said who will replace Soroka, who is expected to have surgery within a week. Among the options are three prospects - Ian Anderson, Tucker Davidson and Bryse Wilson - and the versatile Josh Tomlin, who has 145 career starts and has been valuable in relief. Tomlin pitched a perfect eighth Tuesday night.
The Braves also designated right-hander Chris Rusin for assignment on Tuesday and recalled right-handers Huascar Ynoa and Chad Sobotka, who recorded the final three outs.