The game turned not on a big hit, but on a pair of Atlanta mistakes. San Francisco scored all three of its runs on errors, and Robbie Ray made them stand up in a 3-2 Giants win over the Braves on Sunday at Oracle Park.
Ray was the story on the mound. He worked 8.0 innings, allowing 4 hits, 1 run — none earned — and walking 1 while striking out 2 on 95 pitches. The run he allowed came in the eighth, long after the outcome was largely settled. With a 3.39 ERA, Ray improved to 7-6 on the season. Caleb Kilian worked the ninth, allowing 1 run on 2 hits but recording the final three outs for his sixth save.
San Francisco broke through in the sixth. Rafael Devers reached on an infield single, and Arraez scored on a throwing error by third baseman Riley — the go-ahead run coming courtesy of Atlanta's own defense. Later in the inning, Jung Hoo Lee reached on an infield single and Heliot Ramos scored on another error, this one a throwing mistake by second baseman Ozzie Albies. In the seventh, Luis Arraez's sacrifice fly to right brought Drew Gilbert home to extend the lead to 3-0.
Chris Sale pitched well enough to win most nights. He went 6.0 innings, striking out 10 and walking 1, but allowed 8 hits and 2 runs — only 1 earned. The two unearned runs were the difference. Sale fell to 8-6 with a 2.10 ERA. Atlanta managed late-inning runs — Michael Harris II's sacrifice fly scored Eli White in the eighth, and Austin Riley's groundout brought Matt Olson home in the ninth — but could not complete the comeback. Olson finished 3-for-4 with a run scored.
Atlanta entered the game at 49-31, first in its division, and snapped a previous skid with this series appearance. San Francisco fell to 33-48. Ozzie Albies, who went 0-for-4, is one stolen base away from 100 for his career.