September 15 – Chris Sale gave up one run and five hits in six innings on Saturday night, helping the Atlanta Braves beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 10–1 in the second game of a four-game series.
Sale (17-3) is trying to become the first National League pitcher since Dodgers lefty Clayton Kershaw in 2011 to lead the league in wins, ERA and strikeouts with six strikeouts and two walks while his ERA dropped to 2.35.
Matt Olson and Orlando Arcia each had three-run doubles for the Braves (81-67), who returned to a tie with the New York Mets for the NL final wild-card berth.
Dodgers right-hander Jack Flaherty (12-7) threw a season-low three innings, giving up four runs and five hits while striking out four and striking out a season-high four.
Miguel Rojas had two hits in the eighth inning for the Dodgers (87-61), who have lost four of five.
Michael Harris II hit a home run in the first inning for Atlanta. Flaherty struck out the next two batters, but Olson followed with an RBI double to right to give Harris a 1-0 lead.
Enrique Hernández hit a ground-rule double to left with one out in the third inning. After Shohei Ohtani attempted a strikeout, Mookie Betts hit an RBI single off the end of the bat to tie the game at 1–1.
Betts was unable to break through the high wall in right, allowing Jorge Soler’s leadoff double in the third inning. A two-out double eventually led to two outs for Arcia, who doubled into the right field slot before relieving himself and giving the Braves a 4–1 lead.
After Arcia’s go-ahead run in the sixth inning, Gio Urcera’s double opened the door for six more runs. Whit Merrifield singled to make the score 5-1, then Harris hit a sacrifice fly to make it 6-1.
Atlanta loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning before Olson hit a double to the right corner to increase the lead to 9–1.
Olson then scored on his second sacrifice fly of the inning to take a 10–1 lead.
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