Braves beat skidding Twins 5-1 for 3-game sweep, as Sale notches 15th win and Soler shines

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Chris Sale won his major league-leading 15th game with six crisp innings, Jorge Soler homered early and threw out a runner at the plate late, and the resurgent Atlanta Braves beat the struggling Minnesota Twins 5-1 to complete a three-game sweep Wednesday night.

Sale (15-3) continued his comeback season by stretching his streak of allowing two earned runs or fewer to 14 straight starts. Sale had six strikeouts to match San Diego's Dylan Cease for the major league lead with 197 this year and set a single-season Braves franchise record for a left-hander.

“Being on a new team and having an opportunity to have a fresh start, it’s been fun,” said Sale, who earned an eighth All-Star selection after the last five seasons in Boston were largely spoiled by injuries. "It’s a very loose clubhouse. It’s an easy place to kind of come in and mesh, so just trying to do my job.”

Matt Olson hit an RBI double and Luke Williams added a two-run double in a four-run seventh that broke the game open against Minnesota's beleaguered bullpen and propelled the Braves (73-60) to their ninth win in their last 11 games. They moved within five games of NL East leader Philadelphia, where they conveniently start a four-game series Thursday night.

Atlanta hasn’t been closer than five games to the Phillies since May 18.

“It’s a good time to have a happy flight,” Sale said.

Sale lowered his ERA to 2.58, currently the best in MLB, at the expense of the Twins (72-61), who fell 3 1/2 games behind AL Central leader Cleveland. Kansas City is one game back. Minnesota has a three-game lead on Boston for the final wild card spot.

The Twins had runners at second and third with no outs and the bases loaded with one out, but they failed to score in the fourth when Sale delivered two strikeouts and an inning-ending groundout.

“That’s, to me, why that guy’s the front-runner for the Cy Young,” manager Brian Snitker said. “He’s unbelievable when he gets his back to the wall like that, how he reaches back and can find a way to get out of it. That’s why he’s got 15 wins.”

Twins rookie David Festa (2-4) had his finest start to date spoiled by Sale and Soler.

The right-hander struck out seven batters in a career-high six innings, with one run allowed on two hits and one walk. That came by Marcell Ozuna leading off the seventh in a 1-1 game, prompting manager Rocco Baldelli to pull Festa for lefty Caleb Thielbar. Thielbar lost the lead, and Jorge Alcala let it grow.

“I probably won’t sleep much tonight, honestly. Just can’t lose him there," Festa said, lamenting the walk. “I was confident I was going to put him away.”

Festa could have easily taken a lead into the seventh inning. The Twins got only one run across in the sixth despite four hits and three straight to start the frame.

Manny Margot was waved in by third base coach Tommy Watkins on a single by Ryan Jeffers and easily thrown out by Soler from right field for the first out. Jose Miranda hit a single in the next at-bat, and the Twins finally got on the board with Castro's two-out single.

UP NEXT

Braves: RHP Charlie Morton (7-7, 4.24 ERA) takes the mound Thursday night in Philadelphia. LHP Cristopher Sánchez (9-9, 3.51 ERA) pitches for the Phillies.

Twins: After a day off on Thursday, RHP Pablo López (12-8, 4.26 ERA) starts Friday night to begin a three-game series against Toronto. RHP Kevin Gausman (12-9, 4.10 ERA) pitches for the Blue Jays.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Atlanta Braves' Luke Williams rounds first base on his way to a two-run double against the Minnesota Twins in the seventh inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Minnesota Twins' Ryan Jeffers celebrates his run against the Atlanta Braves in the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher David Festa throws to the Atlanta Braves in the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Atlanta Braves' Jorge Soler runs the bases on his solo home run against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Atlanta Braves' Jorge Soler celebrates his solo home run against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale throws to the Minnesota Twins in the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Luke Jackson, left, smiles appreciatively to first baseman Matt Olson after the latter made a diving catch to end the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale throws to the Minnesota Twins in the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

PHOENIX (AP) — Rhys Hoskins hit a two-run homer, Freddy Peralta pitched five effective innings and the Milwaukee Brewers increased their NL Central lead with a 2-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night.

Hoskins hit his 24th homer off Eduardo Rodriguez (2-3) in the fourth inning and five Milwaukee pitchers shut down baseball’s highest-scoring offense. Peralta (11-8) allowed a run on six hits and Devin Williams worked a perfect ninth for his 12th save in 13 opportunities.

The Brewers extended their NL Central lead to 10 games after the Chicago Cubs lost 9-5 to Colorado.

“Freddy wasn’t his best self, but he bobbed and weaved, gave us five,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “We got some big outs at the end. The bullpen was really good.”

Arizona was limited to six hits to drop into a tie with San Diego for the top NL wild-card spot. The Diamondbacks remain five games back of Los Angeles in the NL West following the Dodgers' 6-2 loss to Atlanta.

“Ww built some innings, but we just couldn't get that big hit,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “We couldn't get into that space where we had the slug that broke the game open.”

Both starters were sharp.

Peralta walked two in the first inning and gave up a run on Pavin Smith’s sacrifice fly and worked around traffic the rest of his outing. The right-hander had five strikeouts and four walks in his second straight season with 30 starts.

“My goal from the begining was to put up zeroes, whether it was four innings or seven,” Peralta said. “I know the guys behind me are going to do it — our bullpen is great.”

Rodriguez struck out seven through the first three innings before Hoskins hit a two-run homer off the base of the second deck in the fourth. It was the only two runs the left-hander allowed on five hits in five innings, with seven strikeouts and three walks.

“I felt pretty good. The only pitch I felt I missed was a sinker and when you miss a pitch, you pay for it,” Rodriguez said. “The last three or four games I've missed a pitch to the wrong guy and paid for it.”

The Brewers helped Rodriguez with shoddy baserunning.

Jackson Chourio got picked off first by Rodriguez in the third inning and a throw behind Garrett Mitchell by Arizona catcher Jose Herrera led to a forceout at third after a rundown.

“Those guys don’t have a full year in the major leagues and we’re an aggressive team, so it’s going to happen,” Murphy said.

TRAINER'S TABLE

Diamondbacks: C Gabriel Moreno (groin) is expected to be activated from the injured list early next week. ... OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (left calf) also could be back in the lineup later in the week.

UP NEXT

Brewers RHP Tobias Myers (7-5, 2.93 ERA) was set to face RHP Brandon Pfaadt (9-8, 4.42) on Saturday.

AP MLB: https://www.apnews.com/hub/MLB

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Freddy Peralta throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning during a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez throws against the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning during a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Milwaukee Brewers' Rhys Hoskins (12) celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fourth inning during a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Milwaukee Brewers' Jackson Chourio hits a double against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning during a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Milwaukee Brewers third base Joey Ortiz, left, tags out Arizona Diamondbacks' Christian Walker trying to advance in the third inning during a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)