Chris Sale, the 2024 National League Cy Young Award winner, pitched a complete game shutout against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Atlanta on Thursday. He needed just 12 more pitches to record the final three outs after walking the length of the Braves' dugout to inform manager Walt Weiss that he intended to finish the game.
Sale's performance marked a standout moment in the Braves' three-game sweep of the Dodgers. The victory capped a series in which the Braves beat Los Angeles by one run in each game. At 37, Sale's performance reinforced his standing in the NL Cy Young Award race alongside Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski.
Sale's outing was notable for his use of high-speed pitches, with two of his fastest pitches since 2018 thrown while Shohei Ohtani was at the plate. He finished the night with 11 strikeouts, including two against Ohtani. Sale's ERA now sits at 2.06, second in the majors behind Misiorowski.
The Braves' ace extended his streak of starts allowing three runs or fewer to 21. Manager Walt Weiss praised Sale's performance, saying "You can make an argument that, as great a career as he's having, he's as good now as he's ever been. It's mind-boggling."
Sale's family was also involved in the emotional night, with his son reacting to his father's decision to pitch the ninth inning. Sale himself said that the emotional night was made more special by the fact that his family was able to experience it after the game.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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