Braves Shutout Dodgers, Sweep 3 Game Series As Chris Sale Strikes Out 11: It’s The First Time Since 2013 That Atlanta Swept L.A.

In a vintage performance that rolled back the years, ace left-hander Chris Sale struck out 11 batters and hurled a spectacular five-hit shutout Thursday, leading the surging Atlanta Braves to a 1-0 victory and a three-game series sweep over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Truist Park.

The flawless dynamic marked the first time the Braves have swept a series against the Dodgers since May 17–19, 2013, snapping a 13-year drought against their perennial National League rivals.

The matinee duel was decided on the very first pitch thrown by Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Braves rookie catcher Drake Baldwin, batting in the leadoff spot, launched a 96 mph fastball deep into the right-field Chop House restaurant, sending the home crowd into an immediate frenzy.

It proved to be the only run Sale would need.

The 37-year-old veteran delivered a masterclass in efficiency, navigating all nine innings on 109 pitches without issuing a single walk. It was Sale’s first complete-game shutout since June 5, 2019, lowering his stellar season ERA to 2.06.

The peak moment of the afternoon arrived in the top of the third inning. Facing superstar Shohei Ohtani with a runner on first, Sale dialed back the clock and fired a blistering 100.1 mph fastball past Ohtani’s swinging bat for a strikeout. It marked the first time Sale had hit triple digits on a radar gun since July 2018.

“Chris knew we were thin in the bullpen today,” Braves bench coach Walt Weiss said. “He just put the team on his back and threw a complete-game shutout against the World Champions.”

Yamamoto was nearly as stout for Los Angeles, settling down after the initial ambush to scatter four hits over six-plus innings while striking out eight. However, the Dodgers’ high-powered offense found no answers for Sale, failing to advance a single runner past second base all afternoon.

The historic victory caps off a dominant regular-season statement for Atlanta, who took five of six games from the Dodgers this year. With the win, the NL East-leading Braves move within just one game of the Dodgers for the National League’s coveted No. 2 playoff seed.