Resurgent Chris Sale Peppering Atlanta Braves Record Books in Dominant First Half
![Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale throws in the third inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on July 9. Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale throws in the third inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on July 9.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4264,h_2398,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/fastball/01j2v87hc683pgasa3j1.jpg)
The Atlanta Braves beat the San Diego Padres 6-3 on Sunday afternoon to head into the All-Star break with some momentum.
The Braves are currently 53-42 on the year and they are in second place in the National League East. The Padres are now 50-49 on the season and continue to put themselves in position for a National League wild card berth.
Veteran left-hander Chris Sale continued his awesome first half of the season with a win on Sunday, going 5.0 innings and allowing one run on four hits. He struck out four in moving to 13-3 on the season with a 2.70 ERA.
Sale, who was traded to the Braves this past offseason, has been a Godsend for Atlanta, who is trying to overcome the loss of ace of Spencer Strider. Sale was injured for most of 2020-2023 with the Boston Red Sox but now healthy, he's back to looking like the Cy Young candidate that he was for so many years. He was named an All-Star this season as well, but won't be pitching in the game.
His season has also put him all over the Braves history books as well, according to @StatsCentre:
(Related) Fewest games from the start of a season for a pitcher to reach 140 strikeouts - @Braves franchise history:
16- Spence Strider (2023)
17- Smoltz (1996)
18- Sale (2024 via his 4th of 4 Ks on Sunday vs SDP)
19- Javier Vazquez (2009)
20- Smoltz (1995)
21- Greg Maddux (1995)
(Related) Fewest games from the start of a season for a pitcher to reach 140 strikeouts - #Braves franchise history:
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) July 15, 2024
16- Spence Strider (2023)
17- Smoltz (1996)
18- Sale (2024 via his 4th of 4 Ks on Sunday vs SDP)
19- Javier Vazquez (2009)
20- Smoltz (1995)
21- Greg Maddux (1995) https://t.co/rb8DhDNohl
The Braves will be off until Friday for the All-Star break. They'll come back with a weekend series against the St. Louis Cardinals.
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