CHICAGO - Freddie Freeman, Tyler Flowers and Nick Markakis all homered off Chris Sale to lead theAtlanta Braves to an 11-8 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Friday night.
Chicago turned its third triple play this season in the third - the only inning Atlanta didn't score against Sale (14-3) in his five innings. The White Sox ace, bidding to become the majors' first 15-game winner, allowed 10 hits - including a career-worst seven for extra bases - and a season high eight runs.
Atlanta's Adonis Garcia had his first four-hit game, including two doubles and two RBIs. Gordon Beckham added three hits and Jeff Francoeur had three RBIs.
Markakis hit his third homer in two nights to boost his season total to five. Freeman had his team-leading 15th and Flowers - Sale's longtime batterymate with the White Sox - added a two run shot and an RBI double to help the Braves win their second straight after a four-game skid.
The Braves' 15 hits equaled a season high for a nine-inning game and included nine for extra-bases.
Chicago's Todd Frazier hit his 24th homer and Adam Eaton added solo shot off Atlanta starter Matt Wisler (4-8), who gave up six runs and eight hits in five innings but got his first win since June 16.
The Braves scored four runs in the fifth on three straight doubles to the wall to break a 4-all tie.
The White Sox became the first team in the majors to turn three triple plays in a season since the 1979 - when Oakland and Boston did it.
With Chase d'Arnaud on second base and Beckham on first in the third inning, Freeman hit a soft liner that rookie shortstop Tim Anderson trapped. Anderson tagged d'Arnaud as he tried to retreat to second for the first out. Anderson stepped on second to force out Beckham, then threw to first baseman Jose Abreu to get Freeman.
Chicago also turned triple plays on April 22 against Texas and May 18 against Houston.
DERBY DAY
Frazier, the defending All-Star Home Run Derby champion, is pumped to take his cuts at Monday's competition in San Diego. "We have a little plan," Frazier said, "and you look at who I'm stacked against and there are some big guns."
Frazier, second in the American League with 24 homers, will take on Colorado's Carlos Gonzalez in the first round and hit second in the matchup, which Frazier prefers. "You know how many home runs you need to hit," he said. "You know whether you need to speed it up and start cranking at some point, and when to use your timeout."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Braves: RHP Julio Teheran, Atlanta's lone All-Star, was cleared to make his regular Saturday against the White Sox after being treated for an infection due to an ingrown hair on his right thigh. "If everything goes well tomorrow and he feels good Sunday, he'll be available to pitch in the All-Star Game, I'm assuming," interim manager Brian Snitker said.
White Sox: Manager Robin Ventura shifted 2B Brett Lawrie to DH following Thursday's day off to give the high-energy infielder a two-day break. "He throws his body around pretty good," Ventura said. "I think it can help him." Carlos Sanchez took Lawrie's place at second base. . Ventura said there's no timetable on the return of RHP Zach Putnam (right elbow) or 35-year-old INF Justin Morneau, the 2006 AL MVP who is on a rehab stint with Triple-A Charlotte.
UP NEXT
Teheran (3-7, 2.72) faces Chicago LHP Jose Quintana (6-8, 3.06) in the second game of the series on Saturday. Quintana ended a nine-start winless streak (0-7) last Sunday at Houston. Teheran has never faced the White Sox and Quintana beat the Braves in his only career start against them.