Chris Sale strikes out 11 in 5-hit shutout as Braves beat Yamamoto and Dodgers 1-0 for 3-game sweep

Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale shut down the Los Angeles Dodgers, striking out 11 batters in a five-hit shutout as the Braves secured a 1-0 victory and a three-game sweep in Atlanta on Thursday night. Drake Baldwin led off the contest with a homer against Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the first of the season for the pitcher. Sale (13-9) did not walk a batter and posted his fourth double-digit strikeout game of the season and 95th of his career, ranking seventh all-time in strikeouts.

Despite the presence of relievers in the bullpen, Braves manager Walt Weiss maintained faith in Sale throughout the ninth inning. Teoscar Hernández popped out in the bottom of the ninth, and Alek Thomas was stranded on second base on Miguel Rojas’ fielder's choice. Sale achieved his 17th complete game and first since 2019 with Boston.

The Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto (12-8) allowed only four hits and struck out eight in 6 1/3 innings. The Atlanta Braves' recent season series against the Dodgers is 5-1, while the Dodgers lead the NL West. Braves shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, currently hitting .078, was promoted to start after his clutch pinch-hit single in Wednesday night's 6-5 victory.

Before the game, Dodgers right-hander Roki Sasaki was placed on the 15-day injured list due to a blister on his right middle finger, and the Dodgers recalled right-hander Seth Halvorsen from Triple-A Oklahoma City to replace him.