Chris Sale returns with 9 strikeouts in his comeback game, rising to 35th on the all-time strikeout list; Turner’s walk-off hit leads Phillies to victory.

Last year’s National League Cy Young Award winner, Chris Sale of the Atlanta Braves, returned from the injured list to the major league mound today, delivering 6 innings with 9 strikeouts and just 1 run allowed in his first outing. However, the home team Phillies won 3-2 over the Braves, thanks to Trea Turner’s walk-off hit in the bottom of the 10th inning, securing their third straight win and maintaining their lead in the National League East.

Sale was placed on the injured list in late June due to a fractured left rib. After nearly two months of recovery and three rehab appearances, he officially returned to the majors today (31st). Facing the second-best team in the National League, the Phillies, he threw 78 pitches over 6 innings, striking out 9, issuing only 1 walk, and allowing 3 hits. The sole run against him came in the bottom of the 3rd inning when Weston Wilson hit a solo home run. Notably, Sale’s career strikeout total reached 2,537, placing him alone at 35th in major league history.

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cristopher Sanchez also delivered a strong performance, pitching 7 innings with 8 strikeouts and no walks or hit batters. Although he gave up 5 hits in the first 5 innings, he allowed no runs. In the top of the 6th inning, after back-to-back doubles by Jurickson Profar and Matt Olson tied the game, the score remained 1-1 through 9 innings, sending the game into extra innings.

In the top of the 10th inning, the Braves scored 1 run on a hit by Nacho Alvarez Jr. In the bottom half, the Phillies loaded the bases with a hit batter and a single. With two outs, Turner hit his third single of the game, driving in 2 runs to end the game.

This was Turner’s seventh career walk-off hit and his third with the Phillies. These three hits have brought his league-leading hit total to 168, giving him a chance to become the first Phillies player since Jimmy Rollins in 2007 to reach 200 hits in a single season.

Discussing Turner’s performance, Phillies manager Rob Thomson said, “He did everything tonight — 3 hits, a walk, the game-winning RBIs, and excellent infield defense.”