Alex Verdugo began the bottom of the 10th on second base and Austin Riley was intentionally walked to set up a double-play opportunity. Ozuna responded by lacing his game-ending single to the left-field corner.
The Braves’ offense was silenced until Sean Murphy began the bottom of the ninth with a walk. Stuart Fairchild, who began the season with the Reds, was inserted as pinch-runner. This positioned him to score from first when Michael Harris II drilled a game-tying double to right field. Harris entered the plate appearance in a 1-for-22 skid.
Sale recorded 10 strikeouts over 6 2/3 scoreless innings, but he looked like he might be destined for the same tough luck he experienced on Wednesday, when he recorded 10 strikeouts in a 2-1 loss to the Rockies at Coors Field.
Sale ranks eighth in MLB history with 89 double-digit strikeout games. This is the first time this season that Sale has notched 10-plus strikeouts in consecutive starts. The only time he did this last year was over three straight starts from Aug. 7-17.
