Sean Murphy drove in the winning run with an infield grounder to complete a two-run 11th-inning rally and give the Atlanta Braves a 4-3 win on Sunday over the visiting Toronto Blue Jays in the rubber game of a three-game series.
The win moved the Braves (78-65) into a tie with the New York Mets for the final wild-card playoff spot. The Blue Jays (68-76) have lost five of their last six.
In the 11th inning, the Braves had runners on the corners against Zach Pop (1-4) after Eli White’s bunt. Automatic runner Michael Harris II scored and White advanced to third when third baseman Addison Barger threw wildly after fielding Adam Duvall’s grounder. Matt Olson was walked to load the bases, and Murphy hit the first pitch to second base, but White beat the throw to the plate.
George Springer put the Blue Jays ahead in the 11th with an RBI single to center field, ending a 26-inning scoreless streak for the Braves reliever Raisel Iglesias (5-1), who earned the win.
Both teams loaded the bases in the 10th inning with one out, but neither was able to push across a run.
The Blue Jays took a 2-1 lead in the eighth inning when pinch hitter Spencer Horwitz hit a two-run homer, his 12th, off reliever Joe Jimenz.
The Braves tied the game in the ninth inning against reliever Chad Green after White beat out an infield single. White went to third on Marcell Ozuna’s single and scored on Olson’s sacrifice fly.
Atlanta starter Chris Sale pitched six scoreless innings and allowed two hits, one walk and two hit batters with seven strikeouts. It was the 15th time in 16 consecutive starts where Sale has allowed two or fewer earned runs and his fixth scoreless effort of the season. Sale threw a season-high 113 pitches.
Toronto starter Yariel Rodriguez threw five innings and allowed one run on two hits, one walk and six strikeouts. He has allowed one run over eight combined innings in his last two starts.
Jarred Kelenic got the Braves on the board in the second inning. He launched a two-out solo homer to right-center field, a blast of 416 feet. It was his 15th, setting a career high for a single season.
