SAN FRANCISCO – Chris Sale and Blake Snell put on an outstanding pitching display in a duel of aces on Monday night before the Atlanta Braves defeated the San Francisco Giants 1-0 in the 10th inning on a sacrifice fly by pinch hitter Travis d’Arnaud.
“It was a tough battle from the start,” Sale said. “Snell is as good as you can expect.”
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The teams continue their four-game series on Tuesday night.
Snell’s no-hit attempt fails in the seventh
Snell pitched a six-inning no-hitter for San Francisco, just 10 days after throwing his first no-hitter in Cincinnati. The left-hander allowed Marcell Ozuna’s leadoff double in the seventh inning on his 103rd pitch.
Matt Olson followed with an infield single, but Snell struck out Orlando Arcia before being tagged out. The two-time Cy Young Award winner struck out 11 times and walked three.
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Sale dominates with 12 strikeouts
Sale threw three hits with 12 strikeouts and no walks in seven innings. The eight-time All-Star threw 77 of 107 pitches for strikes and lowered his ERA to 2.61 in his first season with Atlanta. Atlanta won for only the second time in nine tries and moved one game ahead of the New York Mets, who now secured the National League’s final wild card.
It was the left-hander’s 94th game with double-digit strikeouts. The 33 strikeouts total were the most by any two starting pitchers in Oracle Park history.
“Sale’s effort tonight really got us going,” Braves closer Raisel Iglesias said through an interpreter. “I just think it was a really good performance. It might be one of those things that gives us a little push forward.”
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Braves make breakthrough in extra innings
Sean Murphy’s leadoff single against Taylor Rogers (1-4) in the 10th inning sent Arcia, the automatic runner, from second to third base. He scored on d’Arnaud’s sacrifice fly to right field.
Iglesias (2-1) had four strikeouts in two perfect innings to earn the win.
“He doesn’t flinch in situations like that,” Sale said. “That’s why everyone here trusts him. That’s why we love him here. Whenever he has the ball, there’s no closer you can trust more than him. We’re not winning this game without him.”
San Francisco posted runners at the corners in the first inning against Sale, but could not score.
Atlanta rebounded after blowing a six-point lead in a 9-8 loss to bottom-place Colorado on Sunday.
“After a game like yesterday, he’s definitely a good guy to have on the mound,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “Every time he’s been out there, he’s given us a chance to win.”
Snell left the field to a standing ovation from the 30,184 fans. Since coming off the injured list, he has a 0.99 ERA in seven starts, allowing just 14 hits and striking out 60 in 45 1/3 innings, but he has yet to win a game against the Braves in his career.
Randy Rodríguez relieved Snell and struck out two batters in a row, leaving the game scoreless.
TRAINING ROOM
Braves: LHP AJ Minter was placed on the 15-day injured list because of left hip inflammation, an injury that has plagued him this season and sidelined him for more than a month. … Ramón Laureano (right heel soreness) started in center field.
Giants: INF Thairo Estrada is slowly getting used to on-field practice after missing late June with a sprained left wrist and is expected to return before the end of this month.
