CINCINNATI (AP) — Matt Olson hit two of Atlanta's six home runs, Chris Sale coasted to his major league-leading 18th win and the Braves beat the Cincinnati Reds 15-3 on Thursday.
The Braves became the first team in major league history to hit four three-run homers in a game, according to Elias, and pulled within 1 1/2 games of the Mets for the final NL wild-card spot. New York played later Thursday.
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CINCINNATI (AP) — Matt Olson hit two of Atlanta's six home runs, Chris Sale coasted to his major league-leading 18th win and the Braves beat the Cincinnati Reds 15-3 on Thursday.
Cincinnati Reds' Blake Dunn hits a solo home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
Atlanta Braves pitcher Luke Jackson delivers during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson, center, celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
Atlanta Braves' Jorge Soler, right, embraces teammate Orlando Arcia, center, after hitting a 3-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
Along with his career-best win total, Sale (18-3) also leads the majors in ERA (2.38) and strikeouts (225).
“I felt good. I was able to get through it,” said Sale, who is expecting to make two more starts and a chance to win 20 games. “This was a little bit of a grind but when the offense goes off like that, it takes a little bit off what I need to do."
Sale pitched five innings, allowing two runs and five hits with two walks and six strikeouts. It was the 18th consecutive game in which he allowed two runs or fewer.
“I could tell he was beat (tired),” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “I just think it was hot. It’s an early game. The way he competed to get through that thing, especially in that last inning, he’s different. He has 18 wins for a reason.”
Olson hit his 27th home run and second of the series leading off the second inning. Ramon Laureano hit a three-run homer in the third, his ninth, off rookie Julian Aguiar.
“I like to hit here. It’s just the park, a smaller park,” Olson said. “It has a short right-field fence. A couple balls get out here that aren’t good enough in other places. It’s fun as a hitter. Hopefully, this is a nice little spark.”
Marcell Ozuna doubled in a run in the fifth after Aguiar hit Michael Harris II and Jorge Soler to lead off the inning. Olson greeted Yosver Zuleta with his second homer of the game. It was his fourth multi-homer game of the season and 25th of his career.
Harris hit the Braves' sixth home run with two on in the ninth off Brandon Leibrandt.
The Braves rebounded from a loss Monday night to take the last two games of the season series. The Reds won 4-2.
“These guys, for as long as I can remember, have a really good way of turning the page,” Snitker said. “Every day is a new day. These guys epitomize that. They put a bad one behind them. They don’t rest on their laurels on a good one.”
Soler's 20th home run with two on also came off Leibrandt, the son of former Braves' and Reds' pitcher Charlie Leibrandt. Harris hit his 14th home run and third of the series in the eighth.
Rookie Blake Dunn brought his .095 average to the plate in the third inning. He hit a leadoff single. Dunn stole second and third and scored on Jonathan India's single. The Reds loaded the bases but Ty France hit into a double play.
Dunn hit his first big league home run leading off the fifth inning.
“It was really cool in the moment. Reflecting back on it now, it would have been better if we got a win with it, too. He’s been an amazing pitcher for a long time,” Dunn said.
Dunn walked and scored his third run of the game on Elly De La Cruz's single.
Aguiar (2-1) pitched four-plus innings. He was charged with seven runs on six hits.
“It was a tough day in all areas,” Reds' manager David Bell said. “What is going to make Aggie good is his command. He was off a tick today. The Braves put good swings on the ball and took advantage.”
Snitker confirmed after the game that Ozzie Albies will be activated for the series in Miami.
UP NEXT
Braves: Travel to Miami to start at three-game series. Charlie Morton (8-8, 4.01 ERA) pitches for the Braves.
Reds: Host Pirates starting Friday. Nick Martinez (9-6, 3.37 ERA) is scheduled to start.
Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson hits a solo home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
Cincinnati Reds' Blake Dunn hits a solo home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
Atlanta Braves pitcher Luke Jackson delivers during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson, center, celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
Atlanta Braves' Jorge Soler, right, embraces teammate Orlando Arcia, center, after hitting a 3-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
MILAN (AP) — For the first time in 22 years, there is a Maldini in the Italy squad.
Daniele Maldini was called up by Italy coach Luciano Spalletti on Friday for Nations League matches and could follow in the footsteps of his father Paolo and grandfather Cesare, both former Italy captains.
The 22-year-old Maldini, a forward, plays for Monza after coming through the ranks at AC Milan.
Paolo Maldini retired from international soccer following the 2002 World Cup. He played 126 times for Italy.
Cesare Maldini’s last Italy appearance was in 1963, and he also coached the Azzurri.
Spalletti named three other players who could make their debuts: Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio, Milan defender Matteo Gabbia and Roma midfielder Niccolò Pisilli.
Italy plays Belgium in Rome on Oct. 10 and Israel in Udine four days later.
The Azzurri have won both of their Nations League matches so far against France and Israel, and top their group.
Goalkeepers: Michele Di Gregorio (Juventus), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham).
Defenders: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan), Raoul Bellanova (Atalanta), Alessandro Buongiorno (Napoli), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter Milan), Matteo Gabbia (AC Milan), Caleb Okoli (Leicester), Destiny Udogie (Tottenham).
Midfielders: Nicolò Fagioli (Juventus), Davide Frattesi (Inter Milan), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Niccolò Pisilli (Roma), Samuele Ricci (Torino), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle).
Forwards: Moise Kean (Fiorentina), Daniel Maldini (Monza), Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli), Mateo Retegui (Atalanta).
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
AC Monza's Daniel Maldini, right, and Bologna's Jens Odgaard, left, challenge for the ball during a Serie A soccer match between Monza and Bologna in Monza, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (Studio Buzzi/LaPresse via AP)