CHICAGO — His slider was working again, and Grant Holmes knew he was on a roll against the Chicago White Sox.
The starting pitcher for the Atlanta Braves was getting outs in a hurry Thursday afternoon at Rate Field. The few times batters made solid contact against the 30-year-old right-hander — flies to the warning track or infield liners — his fielders were in position.
Holmes didn’t allow a hit until Andrew Benintendi lined a single to left with no outs in the seventh. That turned out to be Chicago’s only hit in the contest, but it followed a leadoff walk to Miguel Vargas, ending Holmes’ day on the mound.
He was relieved by Didier Fuentes, who struck out the side, and Dylan Lee and Raisel Iglesias each followed with a perfect inning as the Atlanta bullpen fanned seven of nine batters to complete the one-hitter in a 2-0 victory.
“It was nice to have the slider kind of come back there for a little bit,” said Holmes, who said he felt good after warming up. “Went into the game knowing it’s working and just trusted it, and it came out on the good side.”