ANAHEIM, California – Chris Sale had 10 strikeouts in his 14th win and Marcell Ozuna went 3-for-3 with an early three-run homer as the Atlanta Braves defeated the Los Angeles Angels 11-3 on Saturday night.

Whit Merrifield and Ramón Laureano also hit home runs for the Braves, who improved their record to 5-3 after a six-game losing streak and remained one game ahead of the New York Mets for the National League’s final playoff spot.

Sale (14-3) allowed two runs on six hits and two walks in six innings, tying Detroit ace Tarik Skubal for the most wins in the major leagues. The eight-time All-Star was 8-0 in 11 appearances (nine starts) against the Angels and had a 1.24 ERA – his lowest against any team he has faced at least 10 times.

“We’re getting to know him and seeing what kind of professional he is, how he works, how competitive he is,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said of Sale, who has been sidelined by injuries in recent seasons. “The stuff is really good. I’m happy for him that he’s having a normal year after everything he’s been through. And it’s a great year.”

For Sale, it was his third consecutive game with double-digit strikeouts and his sixth this season, his first in Atlanta.

“I’m just enjoying where I am and honestly enjoying playing baseball again,” said Sale, who leads the NL in wins, ERA (2.62) and strikeouts (187) on his way to the pitching Triple Crown. “Obviously, my last few years are well documented and it was tough. But people go through tough times, you get over it and here we are.”

Nolan Schanuel had three hits for the Angels and Kevin Pillar scored two runs against his former club, so Los Angeles fell to 1-4 after six home games. Griffin Canning (4-11) allowed seven runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings, which is a season high.

The Braves took a 3-0 lead three batters into the game when Michael Harris II hit a double, Austin Riley hit a single and Ozuna hit a home run to center field, his 36th. They increased their lead to 4-0 in the second inning on an RBI single by Harris.

“(The home run) meant a lot to the team and especially to me,” Ozuna said. “I had that situation a lot in the last series and this series was the first time I didn’t think, ‘Please don’t swing.’ I got a good pitch to hit and I hit it.”

Atlanta tied the game with five runs in the fifth inning. Merrifield hit a home run, Travis d’Arnaud hit a two-run double and Laureano followed with a two-run home run.

“On a night like tonight, you’re up 3-0 before you even step on the field. That helps a lot too,” Sale said. “I’m surrounded by a lot of good people who push me in the right direction and help me stay upright and keep going.”

A rare Angels highlight came in the sixth inning. Left fielder Taylor Ward attempted a sliding catch along the free throw line, but the ball slipped from his glove and bounced off his leg before he caught it in his lap and was eliminated.

The Angels broke through against Sale in the sixth inning with an RBI double from Pillar, who later scored on a wild pitch.

“If we could have come in with our bullpen and kept the game right there and not allowed those five runs in the fifth inning, it would have been a ballgame,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “With that guy (Sale), you just have to stay in the ballgame, let him pitch, keep going, get him out of there and get him in the bullpen. But we couldn’t stay in there.”

TRAINING ROOM

Braves: After being hit by a pitch on the inside of his right wrist in the seventh inning, d’Arnaud was replaced at catcher by Sean Murphy in the bottom half of the inning. X-rays were negative. … OF Ronald Acuña Jr., who is out until 2025, said his rehab from surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee is going well and vowed not to rush his return like he did after surgery on his right ACL in 2021. … OF Jorge Soler was out of the starting lineup for the third straight game because of a strained left hamstring.

Angels: RHP José Soriano went to the 15-day injured list because of right arm fatigue, while INF Luis Rengifo (wrist) was moved to the 60-day IL. RHP José Cisnero (shoulder) was recalled from the IL. … 3B Anthony Rendon was not in the lineup after being hit by a pitch on the right elbow on Friday.

Next

Braves: RHP Charlie Morton (6-7, 4.40 ERA) had a season-high eight strikeouts in a six-inning no-decision game against the Giants on Tuesday.

Angels: RHP Jack Kochanowicz (1-2, 7.98) will make his fourth career start and first since his first major league win last Sunday against the Nationals.

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