Chris Sale, Braves top Cristopher Sanchez, Phils, boost NL East lead

Sep 4, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale (51) throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Chris Sale outdueled Cristopher Sanchez in a battle of aces and Mauricio Dubon hit a late two-run homer as the visiting Atlanta Braves topped the Philadelphia Phillies 5-2 on Friday. Sale (14-9) allowed two runs and six hits in six innings, striking out seven and walking one. Sanchez (16-5) also tossed six innings, giving up three runs, five hits and three walks while fanning five. Ronald Acuna Jr. had an RBI single as part of a 3-for-5 night for Atlanta, which earned its ninth win in 11 games. Alec Bohm produced a solo homer and an RBI double for Philadelphia, which took its second straight loss after a six-game winning streak. Bryce Harper had his career-high on-base streak end at 35 games. The Braves (84-57) increased their lead to five games over the second-place Phillies (79-62) in the National League East. The teams will play three more games in the current series, then three in Atlanta the following weekend. Sanchez worked around a leadoff baserunner in the first inning, but he wasn't as fortunate in the following frame. Lane Thomas opened the second with a walk and advanced on Dubon's base hit. Two batters later, Austin Riley delivered an RBI single. After a run-scoring groundout from Ha-Seong Kim, Acuna lined a base hit into center to put the visitors ahead 3-0. Philadelphia promptly got one run back when Luis Arraez opened the bottom of the second with a single and Bohm hit the next pitch into left for an RBI double. Bohm was back in the mix again in the fourth, lining a first-pitch fastball from Sale over the fence in left field to get the hosts within 3-2. The Phillies had runners on second and third with two outs in the fifth, but Sale induced Harper into an inning-ending popout. Sanchez concluded his night with a strikeout of Riley on his 108th pitch of the night, ending the sixth inning. Atlanta added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth. Pinch hitter Mike Yastrzemski drew a one-out walk against Orion Kerkering before Dubon lifted a two-run homer to left-center, making it 5-2. Raisel Iglesias was glad to accept the additional buffer, as the Atlanta closer struck out two in a perfect ninth inning for his 30th save. --Field Level Media