Chris Sale threw six strong innings, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 3-1 win over the visiting San Francisco Giants on Wednesday.
Sale (11-3) allowed just one run on three hits and two walks while striking out nine, helping Atlanta snap a two-game skid. Austin Riley finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Adam Duvall went 3-for-4 with an RBI.
Matt Chapman tallied two hits and an RBI for the Giants, who had their two-game winning streak end.
After a scoreless first inning, Atlanta began the bottom of the second with consecutive singles from Riley and Travis d’Arnaud, putting runners at first and second. Duvall then laced a double, driving in Riley for the game’s first run.
Leading 1-0, Sale struck out Curt Casali, Tyler Fitzgerald and Jorge Soler on 13 pitches in the top of the third.
In the bottom of the fifth, Marcell Ozuna slashed a two-out single, which was followed by Matt Olson’s base hit. Riley then scored both runners with a two-run double off the right field wall, giving the Braves a 3-0 advantage.
The Braves thought they had their fourth run on a single from d’Arnaud, but the call was overturned as Riley was thrown out at home by right fielder Austin Slater.
Soler led off the top of the sixth with a double against Sale. After retiring Slater and Heliot Ramos, Chapman hit an RBI double, which cut the Giants’ deficit to 3-1.
Former Brave Luke Jackson relieved Giants starter Jordan Hicks (4-5) after five innings of three-run, eight-hit ball. Hicks struck out six and walked two. Jackson pitched a scoreless sixth.
A.J. Minter came on to replace Sale in the top of the seventh. Minter threw a perfect inning in his first appearance since May 29 following an IL stint.
Atlanta closer Raisel Iglesias allowed a one-out single to Chapman in the ninth but retired Luis Matos on a fly ball and struck out Brett Wisely for the final out, securing his 21st save.
–Field Level Media
