MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jacob Misiorowski threw six shutout innings to outduel Chris Sale and William Contreras went 4 for 4 as the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Atlanta Braves 2-1 on Friday.

Misiorowski (13-5) struck out six while allowing four hits and two walks to win this matchup of Cy Young Award contenders from first-place teams. Misiorowski threw 96 pitches and hit at least 100 mph on 32 of them — including a top velocity of 103.1 — but also mixed in more sliders than usual.

He lowered his ERA to 1.68 and increased his strikeout total to 216. The right-hander leads the major leagues in both categories.

Atlanta left the bases loaded in the eighth and stranded the potential tying run at second in the ninth when Trevor Megill struck out Ronald Acuña Jr. to earn his 24th save in 26 opportunities.

Sale, one of the pitchers Misiorowski has said he admired most while growing up, scattered eight hits and walked none while striking out six in six innings. The 2024 Cy Young Award winner has allowed three runs or fewer in an MLB-leading 20 consecutive starts.

Milwaukee got both its runs off Sale (12-9) in the third inning.

After Luis Lara and Jackson Chourio started the inning with consecutive singles to put runners on the corners, Contreras drove in Lara with a base hit up the middle. Andrew Vaughn then hit into a fielder’s choice that scored Chourio.

Lara went 2 for 3 and made a leaping catch at the center-field wall to rob Matt Olson of a hit in the sixth inning.

Atlanta cut Milwaukee’s lead to 2-1 on Michael Harris II’s two-out RBI single in the eighth. Antonio Senzatela then walked Ozzie Albies to load the bases before retiring Mauricio Dubón on a fly to right.

Mike Yastrzemski hit a two-out single in the ninth and pinch runner Lane Thomas stole second before Acuña struck out.

Up next

Martín Pérez (8-7, 3.15 ERA) starts for Atlanta and Logan Henderson (7-2, 2.70) pitches for Milwaukee on Saturday.

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