Chris Sale turned in another vintage performance as the Atlanta Braves snapped a four-game losing streak with a 3-0 win over the San Diego Padres.
Much like in the first game, the Braves offense wasted no time getting started against Padres starter Randy Vásquez. Ronald Acuña Jr. tripled down the left field line to start the game. Ozzie Albies brought him home with a single to left to put Atlanta in front 1-0.
Chris Sale picked up right where he left off in his last start. Sale allowed a two-out single to Jurickson Profar, but then struck out Jake Cronenworth to end the first inning. He allowed a leadoff single to Manny Machado in the second, but then retired the next three hitters in order.
The Braves added to their lead in the third. Marcell Ozuna doubled with one out in the third to extend his hitting streak to 13-straight games. Olson followed by blooping a single in to left to put runners at first and third. d’Arnaud then singled to left scoring Ozuna to put the Braves in front 2-0.
Sale added another strikeout in the third and retired the first two hitters he faced in the fourth. He lost a battle with Donovan Solano, who singled on the eighth pitch of his at-bat. Ha-Seong Kim followed with another knock that put runners at the corners. However, he came back and got Jose Azocar to fly out to right to leave the runners stranded.
The Braves extended the lead in the fifth when Ozuna jumped on a first pitch changeup from Vasquez and drove it out for his 14th homer of the season.
It was a masterclass performance for Sale who retired the last 10 hitters he faced. He’d exit after allowing five hits over seven scoreless innings. Sale hasn’t allowed a run in his 20 innings. He struck out nine and didn’t walk anyone while throwing 103 pitches.
Pierce Johnson made his first appearance since returning from the injured list and worked a scoreless eighth. Raisel Iglesias worked a drama free ninth to pick up his 11th save of the season.
The Braves finished with 11 hits in the game. d’Arnaud led the way with three hits and drove in a run in his first game since Friday. Ozuna went 2-for-3 with a double and a homer. Every player in the lineup had at least one hit except for Orlando Arcia who went hitless in three at-bats.
With the win, Atlanta moves back to 10 games over .500 at 27-17. They will head out on the road Tuesday where they will begin a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs.
