Sale, Braves salvage doubleheader split with Mets

Field Level Media

NEW YORK — Chris Sale showed once again why he has been Atlanta’s ace this season.

The former National League Cy Young Award winner struck out nine over six scoreless innings, and Matt Olson drove in the game’s only run as the Braves blanked the New York Mets 1-0 Wednesday night to earn a split of a doubleheader between the National League East rivals.

The Mets claimed the opener 3-2 before Atlanta responded behind Sale and a dominant bullpen to avoid being swept in the twin bill.

Sale (12-6) allowed just two singles, walked none and continued one of the best stretches of his season. The veteran left-hander has won three consecutive starts and four straight decisions while allowing one run or fewer in 11 of his 20 outings this year.

Atlanta’s bullpen was equally impressive. Didier Fuentes struck out three during a hitless seventh inning, Dylan Lee retired the side in order in the eighth and Raisel Iglesias needed just eight pitches — all strikes — to record a perfect ninth for his 22nd save. The quartet combined on a two-hit shutout as the Mets never advanced a runner to second base.

Olson provided the only offense Sale needed in the sixth inning. Rookie Jim Jarvis led off with a double before Drake Baldwin singled. After Christian Scott struck out Ronald Acuña Jr., Olson lined an RBI single up the middle to score Jarvis with the game’s lone run.

Baldwin finished with two hits, while Olson, Ozzie Albies, Mauricio Dubon, Eli White and Jarvis each added one.

Scott (3-3) was the hard-luck loser after allowing one run on five hits while striking out seven over a season-high six innings.

The Braves couldn’t capitalize on a solid return by AJ Smith-Shawver in Wednesday’s opener.

Making his first major league start since undergoing Tommy John surgery in June 2025, Smith-Shawver allowed two runs over 4 1/3 innings before the Mets rallied late for a 3-2 victory.

Matt Olson accounted for Atlanta’s offense with a two-run homer in the sixth, erasing a 2-0 deficit after New York scored twice in the fifth on an RBI double by Francisco Alvarez and A.J. Ewing’s sacrifice fly.

The Mets broke the tie in the seventh when Carson Benge doubled home Ewing against reliever Dylan Dodd. Devin Williams closed out the ninth for his 15th save.

Olson homered and drove in all three of Atlanta’s runs in the doubleheader, while Baldwin continued his strong day by collecting four hits in the two games.

The split kept the Braves from losing further ground in the National League East race after New York entered the day riding a three-game winning streak.