Chris Sale silences SF Giants in 3-1 loss to Braves

Starting pitcher Jordan Hicks #12 and catcher Curt Casali #18 of the San Francisco Giants talk during the second inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on July 3, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

The Giants’ once-maligned offense entered the matchup against Chris Sale with one of its most impressive winning streaks of the season: 12 consecutive games with at least three runs scored. That makes it the longest active winning streak in the major leagues and the club’s longest such streak since 2004.

They remained hitless until the fifth inning and looked like a club facing off against a seven-time All-Star who, at 35, is hoping to win his eighth All-Star title – and first since 2018 – in a comeback season in Atlanta while suffering a 3-1 loss in the second game of their series against the Braves.

The Giants’ first hit of the game was scored by catcher Curt Casali, but he was promptly taken out of the game when the next batter, Tyler Fitzgerald, hit the first pitch of his at-bat into right field, ending the inning.

As the first batter of the sixth inning, Jorge Soler, who once rose to become the Giants’ doubles machine as a designated hitter, hit his eleventh two-bagger since early June and scored the game’s only run two batters later with a double by Matt Chapman with two outs and two strikes.

Another two-strike kick by Chapman with one out in the ninth inning allowed the Giants to score the tying point against Braves closer Raisel Iglegias, but that was all the offense they could muster, ending their 12-game point streak.

After a 5-2 home win and a comeback win to open their series in Atlanta on Monday, the Giants were within two games of their .500 record by Wednesday, and the loss was only their third in the last nine games.

With his 11 doubles since the beginning of June, Soler is tied with Gunnar Henderson of the Orioles for the third-highest level in the major leagues, only Jonathan India (13) and Francisco Lindor (12) are better. During this period, he achieved a batting average of .280 and an OPS of .854.

Giants starter Jordan Hicks took the loss, allowing all three of the Braves’ runs on eight hits while allowing six strikeouts and two walks in five innings.

Five is the magic number

As Andrew Baggarly noted in The Athletic, it was the first time since May 18-19 that Hayden Birdsong, who recorded his first major league win on Tuesday after defeating Spencer Bivens the day before, had won two consecutive games for the Giants’ starting pitcher.

Hicks left the game trailing 3-1 and, although he failed to make it three wins in a row, he was able to continue his winning streak with the help of Austin Slater and MLB headquarters in New York.

With two outs in the fifth inning, two runs on the scoreboard and plenty of action in the Giants’ bullpen, it didn’t take Hicks long to get into the game. At first, it seemed like the Braves had scored a third run and kept the Polonaise going when Travis d’Arnaud smacked a single into right field for their fourth hit of the inning.

Austin Riley charged around third base and Austin Slater came in firing. The throw from right field arrived at home plate at the same time as the Braves’ third baseman and home plate umpire Ryan Additon initially ruled it safe, but after a video review, it was determined that catcher Curt Casali applied the tag in time to end the inning.

By finishing the inning, albeit trailing by one, Hicks became the Giants’ third consecutive starting pitcher to go five innings. Not a surprise to any member of the major league’s most heavily used bullpen, but it was the first time that’s happened to them since May 24-26.

Had Hicks earned the win, it would have been the first time since May 26, 2023 that the Giants’ starters had won three games in a row.

The good news is that reinforcements are on the way.

Left-hander Kyle Harrison, who has been out since June 13 with a sprained ankle, is with the team in Atlanta and is expected to be used in Cleveland. Fellow left-hander Blake Snell, who has started six times all season, is expected to be back for the start of Tuesday’s home opener.

And sometime after the All-Star break, they expect to bring in Robbie Ray and Alex Cobb, who will continue their rehab duties this week, with Ray scheduled to start for Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday and Cobb on Friday.

Hjelle is recovering

The Braves’ lineup is far from its best and not quite as fearsome as it once was with Ronald Acuña Jr. and Michael Harris Jr. But Ozzie Albies, Marcell Ozuna and Matt Olson still form an intimidating 2-3-4 combination and Sean Hjelle made short work of them in the eighth inning.