Chris Sale ties MLB record of 11 wins, Braves beat Giants 3-1

ATLANTA – Chris Sale allowed just three hits in six innings to earn his 11th win and lead the Atlanta Braves to a 3-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday night.

Sale (11-3) tied Kansas City’s Seth Lugo for the most wins in the major leagues, continuing his form of winning 11 or more games in seven consecutive seasons with the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox. It was also Sale’s eighth home win, the most of any pitcher this season, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

“Are these more wins than I have had in the last five years combined?” Sale asked with a smile.

These are Sales’ most wins since the 12-4 final score with Boston in 2018. The left-hander recorded nine strikeouts and allowed one run, qualifying him for the All-Star selection.

“We’ll get through this when the time comes,” Sale said when asked about the possibility of being named the NL starter. “… I’d welcome it, but we still have games to play. I don’t want to be distracted.”

The Giants were only able to record four hits thanks to Sale and three relievers.

Austin Riley hit a two-run double in the fifth.

Sale needed just six pitches to strike out the Giants in order in the first inning, laying the foundation for his strong start. The left-hander struck out the team in the third inning. Sale added two more strikeouts to start the fifth inning before Curt Casali hit a single to center field that brought in San Francisco’s first hit.

The Braves took a 1-0 lead with three consecutive hits, including Adam Duvall’s double against Jordan Hicks (4-5) to start the second. Duvall had three hits.

Hicks allowed three runs in five innings.

“It’s not that (Hicks) pitched badly,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said. “It was that he couldn’t relieve Sale and then three pretty good relievers.”

Riley’s two-run double off the right outfield wall in the fifth inning increased the lead to 3-0.

Home plate umpire Ryan Additon called Riley safe on his slide at the plate while attempting to score from second base on Travis d’Arnaud’s single to right field. The Giants contested the call, and replay showed Casali touched Riley after catching the throw from right fielder Austin Slater.

Matt Chapman’s double brought Jorge Soler home in the sixth inning and provided the Giants’ only run.

Chapman reached with one out on an infield single in the ninth inning before Raisel Iglesias completed his 21st save in 23 chances.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.