ATLANTA (AP) — Chris Sale reached 200 strikeouts for the first time since 2019 and picked up the 16th win of his comeback season, pitching seven strong innings to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 3-0 win over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night.

After losing three of four games to NL East leader Philadelphia, severely denting Atlanta’s hopes of a seventh consecutive division title, the Braves maintained a half-game lead over the Mets for the final NL wild card spot. New York defeated the Boston Red Sox 7-2.

Sale (16-3) won his sixth straight game, has made 15 straight starts and allowed no more than three earned runs, and looks like the pitcher who made the All-Star game and finished at the top of the AL Cy Young Award voting for seven straight seasons.

Sale allowed six hits and struck out nine, raising his season total to 206, his most since 219 with the Red Sox before a series of injuries ended his career. He became the first left-hander in Braves franchise history to hit 200 Ks.

Sale shrugged off those milestones, saying his only goal was to help the Braves go deep into the playoffs.

“When you get home and the dust settles, you start to appreciate some of those things,” he said. “I don’t want to get lost in something that really has no meaning right now and doesn’t count for anything for the season. It doesn’t help us get more wins. It’s just a shiny coin that can’t be cashed in.”

Braves manager Brian Snitker certainly appreciates Sale’s season, which helped keep Atlanta in the playoff race despite a devastating injury spree.

“A lot of the things he does are really special to me,” Snitker said. “When you’re around him every day and you watch these games and you see how he competes and what he’s done, that’s a Cy Young season.”

Raisel Iglesias threw a perfect ninth inning for his 29th save in 31 chances and extended his scoreless streak to 22 1/3 innings.

“It’s not impressive anymore,” Sale said of his closer’s performance. “The fact that he did so well in the ninth inning made the difference for us.”

Whit Merrifield hit a single with one out against Kyle Freeland (4-7) in the third inning and scored on Gio Urshela’s double down the left field line.

Michael Harris II followed with a dribble toward first base. Michael Toglia caught the ball and backhanded it to Freeland, who covered it, but the throw was behind him and rolled toward Atlanta’s dugout, resulting in an error that allowed Urshela to scamper home.

Sale was able to get out of a tricky situation in the sixth inning after Ezequiel Tovar opened the scoring with a triple against the fence on the right side.

Brendan Rodgers and Brenton Doyle struck out with momentum before Toglia hit a ball to the 400-foot-high sign in center, where Harris caught it with a spinning shot to the wall.

Merrifield had to leave the field after a scary moment in the seventh inning. A 94 mph fastball from Jeff Criswell hit the Atlanta batter in the head and fortunately caught on part of his helmet just behind his left ear.

Merrifield teetered on one knee and angrily yelled at Criswell while he was on the ground before finally walking slowly to the dugout. He was replaced by Luke Williams, who eventually scored on Harris’ sacrifice fly.

Snitker said Merrifield passed concussion protocol and expected to play Wednesday.

TRAINING ROOM

Braves 2B Ozzie Albies (broken left wrist) participated in fielding drills for the first time but has not yet been cleared to hit. “Right now I’m just in the gym, keeping the body healthy, running the bases, keeping the body strong for the possible comeback,” he said. Albies has been out since July 21, when he was injured trying to catch a throw against the Cardinals. He expects to be out at least eight weeks but remains hopeful of returning before the end of the regular season. … RHP Huascar Ynoa began another rehab assignment at Triple-A Gwinnett. He has not pitched at the major league level since 2022.

Next

RHP Charlie Morton (7-7, 4.26 ERA) will pitch for the Braves in the second game of the series on Wednesday, facing Colorado RHP Bradley Blalock (1-1, 5.23 ERA), who will make his fifth career start.

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