Chris Sale continues his dominant run as the Braves beat the Padres 3-0

MLB

“I think he expects to be that guy.”

By CHARLES ODUM, Associated Press

May 21, 2024 | 8:14 a.m.

ATLANTA (AP) — Chris Sale allowed just five hits in seven innings to continue his strong streak and the Atlanta Braves ended their season-worst four-game losing streak by beating the San Diego Padres 3-0 Monday night to split a doubleheader. .

The Padres won the first three games of the series. Manny Machado’s two-run double in the eighth gave San Diego the lead and the Padres recovered from a five-run deficit to win the first double bill game, 6-5.

In the nightcap, Sale (7-1) recorded nine strikeouts with no walks while winning its sixth straight start. He didn’t allow a run in three straight starts, a stretch of 20 innings. He has 28 strikeouts and one walk in the dominant sequence.

“I know as well as anyone how quickly this room can turn around,” Sale said. “There’s a long way to go and there’s nothing to hang your hat on yet. …I wouldn’t say I’m totally satisfied.

The sale served as a stopper to end a four-game streak.

“I think he expects to be that guy,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker, who added that Sale “has been nothing but nails” during his scoreless streak.

Pierce Johnson and Raisel Iglesias rounded out the seven-batter total. Iglesias threw a perfect ninth for his 11th save.

Game 2 was scheduled when rain postponed Saturday night’s game.

Marcell Ozuna has homers in every game and has 14 this season. Ozuna’s fifth-inning liner over the left-field wall off Randy Vásquez (0-3) gave Atlanta a 3-0 lead in Game 2.

Ronald Acuña Jr. led off the game against Vásquez with his first triple of the season and scored on Ozzie Albies’ single.

The Braves blew a 5-0 lead in Game 1, wasting a strong start from Reynaldo López. Machado’s double against Joe Jiménez (1-1) allowed Jurickson Profar and Jake Cronenworth to cap a four-run inning. Cronenworth singled in two runs in the inning.

“It’s been all year, we haven’t really left the fight,” Machado said. “This team, until the last takedown is made, we’re going to keep fighting.”

Atlanta led 5-2 heading into San Diego’s four-run eighth. The Padres had lost 117 consecutive games while trailing by three runs in seven innings since their most recent such comeback on May 29, 2021 in Houston.

“Oh my God, I love this team, I love this team,” manager Mike Shildt said.

Shildt said Machado’s kickoff was “Manny doing Manny things.”

Ozuna and Matt Olson hit back-to-back homers in the third inning for Atlanta, which had 12 hits after being held to two runs and 11 hits while losing the first two games of the series.

Acuña had three of the Braves’ nine hits in four innings against Dylan Cease, who previously had not allowed more than six hits in a game this season.

Jhony Brito (1-2) allowed a hit in a scoreless seventh for the Padres. Robert Suarez, aided by shortstop Ha-Seong Kim’s diving catch on a popup hit by Harris in shallow center field, pitched a perfect ninth for his 13th save.

TRAINERS ROOM

Padres: Second baseman Xander Bogaerts suffered minor inflammation in his left shoulder and left Game 1 in the third inning. Bogaerts was injured while diving for a bases-loaded single by Acuña. Shildt said the imaging test results were negative and further testing was planned. Luis Arraez started at second base during the nightcap. … Right-hander Logan Gillaspie, promoted from Triple-A Texas-El Paso to become the 27th man in the doubleheader, pitched two scoreless innings in Game 1.

The brave: RHP Darius Vines was recalled and RHP Bryce Elder was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett between games. Elder was 1-2 with a 6.46 ERA in five starts with Atlanta. … RHP Daysbel Hernández worked out of a jam in a scoreless ninth in Game 1 after being promoted from Triple-A Gwinnett to serve as the 27th man. … RHP Jackson Stephens hit free agency after declining his outright assignment to Gwinnett. … C Travis d’Arnaud (head contusion) had three hits in the start of the second game.

FOLLOWING

Padres: Right-hander Joe Musgrove (3-3, 6.37 ERA) is expected to return from the 15-day injured list after recovering from right elbow inflammation when the Padres open a three-game series at Cincinnati on Tuesday night.

The brave: Right-hander Charlie Morton (3-1, 3.52) will face right-hander Javier Assad (4-0, 1.49) when the Braves open a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night.