Pitching rules: Sale strengthens Cy bid as Iglesias provides key relief in win

ATLANTA -- Whether talking about Chris Sale’s latest start, Raisel Iglesias’ dominant stretch or Michael Harris II finishing what he started, the Braves were all smiles after a 3-2, 10-inning win over the Nationals on Friday night.

“That was a lot of fun,” Sale said. “It was a grinder game for both teams. Right from the jump, it was one of those dog fight games.”

Harris hit his first career leadoff homer and produced the game-ending grounder that fellow Atlanta native CJ Abrams fielded before making a throw that first baseman Juan Yepez couldn’t pick out of the dirt.

Somewhere in between, Sale strengthened his strong Cy Young Award bid and Iglesias showed why he might be the game’s best closer, at least over the past four weeks.

“[Iglesias is] probably the greatest team player I’ve ever been around,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “This run he is on has been amazing.”

Iglesias has retired 40 of the past 41 batters he has faced going back to July 27. His two scoreless innings in this latest outing gave the Braves eight wins in their past 12 games. They lead the battle for the National League’s final Wild Card spot, but they are also just five games behind the first-place Phillies in the NL East.

So much for the Braves folding after adding Austin Riley’s broken hand to this year’s long list of significant injuries.

“Overcoming those things when you’re resilient and have the group that we have becomes a little bit easier,” Sale said.

Sale has garnered plenty of attention as he has established himself as the NL’s Cy Young Award favorite. But Iglesias hasn’t garnered the praise he deserves while setting the franchise record for the most consecutive batters retired during the Expansion Era (since 1961).

Iglesias worked a perfect ninth and entered the 10th having retired 38 consecutive batters. This was MLB’s longest streak since Yusmeiro Petit retired 46 straight in 2014. The Braves reliever’s streak ended when he hit Jacob Young with the 10th inning’s first pitch. But, he then retired the next two batters, one via a pop fly and the other with a Joey Gallo comebacker that became an inning-ending double play.

“You almost get lost in it and you almost come to expect it,” Sale said. “I would say it’s surprising, but it’s really not.”

Nor was it surprising to see Sale limit the Nationals to two runs over seven innings. His 12 starts of seven innings or more ranks second in the Majors, trailing only the Giants’ Logan Webb (15).

Sale has also allowed two earned runs or fewer in each of his past 13 starts, going back to a June 7 start at Nationals Park. Since earned runs became an official stat in the NL in 1912, he is the tied with Greg Maddux (once in 1993 and again in 1995) for the second-longest such streak by a Braves pitcher since Lou Fette had a 14-game streak in 1939.

“He's going out there dominating every team he gets the ball against,” Harris said. “He gives us the best chance to win games like this, close games.”

Sale finished among the top six in American League Cy Young balloting over seven straight seasons (2012-18), but he has never won the honor in either league. He is tied for the MLB lead with 14 wins and he has posted an NL-leading 2.62 ERA. His 191 strikeouts rank second in the Majors, trailing on the Padres’ Dylan Cease.

As Sale chases the ERA crown, it should be pointed out the only two runs he surrendered Friday came when Jorge Soler’s limited range prevented him from getting to a Keibert Ruiz two-out fly ball that bounced inside the right-field line and hopped into the stands.

Soler was playing the outfield for the first time since his left hamstring tightened during an Aug. 14 game in San Francisco. The slugger’s defensive limitations also led to two earned runs being charged to Sale on Aug. 7 against the Brewers.

Of course, the Braves benefited from a defensive mistake with this last victory. Harris’ first inning homer was his first career leadoff homer and his second homer against a left-hander (MacKenzie Gore) since he came off the injured list on Aug. 14.

His game-ending sprint was a birthday present for his dad, who was in center field chanting his son’s nickname, "Deuce," during the game.

"Coaches have always told me if you put the ball in play and hustle, good things can happen. So in that situation, runner at third and two outs, just put the ball in play. You never know what happens next."