Chris Sale continues to dominate on the mound for the Atlanta Braves, as he earned his 17th win of the season by shutting down the Los Angeles Dodgers with a 10-1 victory. Sale, who hasn’t suffered a loss since June 27, struck out six batters over six innings, including the formidable Shohei Ohtani, who is vying to make history by hitting 50 home runs and stealing 50 bases in a single season.
Sale’s performance also included becoming the first player in Braves franchise history to allow no more than two earned runs in 17 consecutive starts, surpassing the previous record held by Hall of Famer Greg Maddux. He also took over the NL lead in strikeouts with 219, edging out Dylan Cease of the Padres.
The Braves’ offense came alive with a six-run sixth inning, highlighted by Matt Olson’s bases-loaded double and RBIs from Whit Merrifield and Michael Harris II. Olson, who finished the game with four RBIs, also contributed to Atlanta’s early lead with an RBI double in the first inning.
The victory propelled the Braves to a season-high 14 games over .500, tying them with the Mets for the final NL wild-card spot. Manager Brian Snitker expressed optimism about the team’s recent performances, emphasizing the importance of this series.
Looking ahead, Braves right-hander Charlie Morton will face off against Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler in the third game of the four-game series. With Sale’s stellar pitching and the team’s offensive prowess, the Braves are poised for a strong finish to the season.
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