White Sox Edge Braves 2-1 to Capture AL Central Lead

On Wednesday night, Davis Martin pitched six scoreless innings, allowing six hits and striking out six as Chicago beat Atlanta 2–1. Braden Montgomery doubled and Derek Hill singled home the run in the fourth. Atlanta cut the lead to 2–1 in the seventh on an unearned run after a Miguel Vargas error. Bryan Hudson earned his third save.

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Martin (9-2) tied Aaron Ashby and Gavin Williams for the league lead in wins. He escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the second by striking out Jorge Mateo and inducing a line-out from Austin Wynns. Atlanta starter Chris Sale (8-5) gave up two runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out six. Reliever Sean Newcomb inherited the lead in the seventh, but a Vargas error produced the lone run. Seranthony Domínguez pitched a clean eighth, and Hudson closed the ninth without allowing a baserunner.

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In his second major-league game, Montgomery added two doubles and scored, following his debut home run. Derek Hill delivered an RBI single, and Luisangel Acuña added a ground-ball RBI for the second run. Chase Meidroth extended his on-base streak to 21 games and his hitting streak to 11 with an infield single in the third.

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Atlanta's seventh-inning rally came after a Vargas error that let Jorge Mateo score from first. In the bottom half, Acuña reached second on an error, a challenge overturned his steal of third, and he was later tagged out at home on a Meidroth grounder. The White Sox bullpen, with Domínguez and Hudson, preserved the lead.

First place feels pretty good: White Sox edge Braves, 2-1

The win placed Chicago half a game ahead of the Cleveland Guardians, who lost to the New York Yankees earlier. Chicago has won seven straight home games and nine of its last 13, the first time this season it has led the AL Central since 2021. The team now tops the division entering the series finale.

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• Davis Martin: 6 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 6 K, win (9-2).

First place feels pretty good: White Sox edge Braves, 2-1

• Chris Sale: 5 2/3 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 6 K, loss (8-5).

First place feels pretty good: White Sox edge Braves, 2-1

• White Sox: 2 runs, 9 hits, 0 errors; Braves: 1 unearned run, 6 hits, 1 error.

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• Bullpen: Seranthony Domínguez 1 IP, 0 H; Bryan Hudson 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R.

First place feels pretty good: White Sox edge Braves, 2-1

The series concludes Thursday with Atlanta left-hander Martín Pérez (4-3, 3.02 ERA) starting for the Braves against Chicago left-hander Anthony Kay (5-1, 4.40 ERA). Both pitchers will seek to influence the final outcome of the three-game set and the AL Central standings.

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