Davis Martin pitched six shutout innings and Derek Hill and Luisangel Acuna drove in runs in the fourth to boost the host Chicago White Sox to a 2-1 victory against the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday.
Chicago secured a series victory against the major-league-leading Braves, stopping Atlanta’s string of four straight series wins. The White Sox won the opener of the three-game set 6-5 in 10 innings on Tuesday.
Coupled with the Cleveland Guardians’ home loss to the New York Yankees earlier Wednesday, the White Sox moved into sole possession of first place in the American League Central for the first time since the final day of the 2021 season.
Martin (9-2) provided stability. The right-hander scattered six hits while registering six strikeouts and no walks. Jorge Mateo’s two-out double in the fourth inning was Atlanta’s only extra-base hit.
Bryan Hudson overcame a one-out walk in the ninth to notch his third save.
Braves left-hander Chris Sale matched zeros with Martin for the first three innings despite allowing at least one hit in each frame.
Chicago broke through in the fourth. Braden Montgomery, who hit a walk-off homer in his major league debut on Tuesday, opened the inning with a double and scored on Hill’s single one batter later. Hill stole second base, advanced to third on Jacob Gonzalez’s groundout, then scored on Acuna’s groundout.
Montgomery and Acuna had two hits apiece for Chicago.
Sale (8-5) permitted two runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings, failing to work six innings for the third straight start. He issued one walk, hit a batter and fanned six.
Atlanta drew within 2-1 in the top of the seventh, as a run scored when White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas allowed Ozzie Albies’ grounder to slip under his glove.
Didier Fuentes, Dylan Lee and James Karinchak combined on 2 1/3 innings of two-hit, scoreless relief for the Braves.
Atlanta placed right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. on the 10-day injured list before the game. The leadoff man left the series opener on Tuesday due to left hamstring tightness.
Michael Harris II went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts atop the Atlanta order. Mike Yastrzemski, who started in left field Tuesday, shifted to right field.
Mateo had two hits for the Braves.
