Rookie Hurston Waldrep threw a career-best seven scoreless innings and the Atlanta Braves beat the visiting Chicago White Sox 1-0 on Wednesday in the rubber game of their three-game interleague series.
The game was the complete opposite of the first two games in the series, where the teams combined for 43 runs and 58 hits. Both teams had four hits on Wednesday.
The Braves have won seven of their last eight games and 11 of their last 14. Chicago has lost six of its last seven games and finished their road trip with a 1-5 record.
Waldrep (4-0) allowed four hits, one walk and matched his career high with seven strikeouts. He threw 87 pitches, 60 for strikes. Waldrep, ranked as Atlanta’s No. 7 prospect, lowered his ERA to 0.73 with 24 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings.
The Atlanta bullpen finished the job to nail down the shutout. Pierce Johnson pitched a scoreless eighth inning, striking out one. Closer Raisel Iglesias worked a perfect ninth inning, struck out Miguel Vargas to end the game, and earned his 21st save.
Chicago starter Martin Perez (1-3) was the hard-luck loser. He threw 5 1/3 innings and allowed one run, unearned, on three hits and five strikeouts. It was another frustrating night for the Venezuelan lefty, who has failed to beat the Braves in four career starts.
The Chicago bullpen closed the game with 2 2/3 scoreless frames. Jordan Leasure (2/3 inning), Mike Vasil (1 2/3 innings) and Brandon Eisert (1/3 inning) held the Braves scoreless on one hit.
The Braves scored their only run in the fourth inning. Marcell Ozuna doubled into the left-field corner, advanced to third base on a ground ball and scored when Ozzie Albies’ grounder was not fielded cleanly by shortstop Colson Montgomery.
Atlanta’s Michael Harris II went 0-for-3, ending his 12-game hitting streak.
Atlanta is off on Thursday and begins a three-game home series with the New York Mets on Friday. Chicago returns home to start a three-game series against Minnesota on Friday.
–Field Level Media
