Sale dominates as Braves beat Mets 1-0 to split doubleheader

NEW YORK (AP) — Chris Sale struck out nine and limited New York to two hits in six innings and the Atlanta Braves beat the Mets 1-0 on Wednesday to split a day/night doubleheader.

Sale (12-6) didn't walk a batter. Raisel Iglesias, the Braves' fourth pitcher, had his 22nd save with a perfect ninth.

Matt Olson had an RBI single in the sixth in the Braves' first 1-0 victory over the Mets since a seven-inning win in the second game of a doubleheader June 21, 2021.

Olson also accounted for the Braves’ offense in the opener, when he hit a two-run homer in a 3-2 loss.

Christian Scott (3-3) gave up one run and struck out seven while throwing six innings — his longest stint since May 24, 2024. Scott underwent Tommy John surgery in September 2025 and pitched into the sixth just three times in his first 14 starts this year.

The Mets finished 4-2 against the Braves at home this season — their first winning record at Citi Field against Atlanta since 2022 and only their third in the last 10 seasons.

New York is 6-4 against the Braves and can clinch the season series for the first time since 2017 with one win in Atlanta during a three-game series next month.

Braves: RHP Grant Holmes (6-4, 3.79 ERA) opens a four-game series Thursday at the Washington Nationals, who will counter with RHP Jake Irvin (2-4, 5.23 ERA).

Mets: RHP Nolan McLean (7-7, 3.32 ERA) opposes Miami RHP Eury Pérez (5-8, 3.56 ERA) in the first game of a four-game set Thursday night.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

New York Mets against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in New York (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

Atlanta Braves' Drake Baldwin runs to first base during the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in New York (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

Atlanta Braves' Chris Sale pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in New York (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

Atlanta Braves' Jim Jarvis, center right, scores during the sixth inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader, against the New York Mets, Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in New York (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

Atlanta Braves' Chris Sale pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in New York (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Yandy Diaz and Ryan Vilade homered in the first inning and five pitchers combined for a four-hitter as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Texas Rangers 3-0 on Wednesday night.

Ian Seymour (7-3) allowed just two hits in 4 2/3 innings of bulk relief behind opener Casey Legumina, who allowed one hit in 1 2/3 innings. Garret Cleavinger pitched out of a seventh-inning jam, and Kevin Kelly struck out the side in the eighth.

Bryan Baker converted his 19th consecutive save and 29th overall with a scoreless final inning to close out the ninth shutout this season for AL East-leading Tampa Bay. It was the Rays' third shutout in four games.

Texas starter MacKenzie Gore (6-9) allowed three hits and struck out nine in seven innings, retiring 20 of the final 21 batters he faced. The Rangers held the Rays without a hit for the final 7 2/3 innings.

Tampa Bay jumped on Gore in the first inning as Diaz led off with a 372-foot, opposite-field shot to right. Jonathan Aranda followed with a double before Vilade hit a two-run homer with one out that struck the “D” Ring in left field.

Seymour allowed a one-out double in the third before retiring 10 consecutive batters.

Texas put runners on first and second with one out in the seventh after a double by Jake Burger and walk to Nicky Lopez. But Cleavinger struck out Cam Cauley before Alejandro Osuna bounced out in front of the plate to end the threat.

Rays LHP Shane McClanahan (9-6, 3.09 ERA) is scheduled to start the series finale on Thursday against Rangers RHP Cole Winn (5-3, 6.11).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Texas Rangers first baseman Jake Burger catches a pop up hit by Tampa Bay Rays' Nick Fortes, not pictured, during the second inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Texas Rangers' Jake Burger doubles during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Tampa Bay Rays' Jonathan Aranda celebrates after his double during the third inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Casey Legumina throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Díaz celebrates as he rounds the bases after home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)