The price of trying to preserve a shutout was costly for Austin Allsup Jersey Chris Sale. The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a fractured left rib cage. He when diving off the mound in the ninth inning of the , . Sale induced a one-hopper from Juan Soto that might have died on the gra s in the triangle between the mound, second base and first base if not for Sales crazy athleticism. He took a few steps from one side of the rubber to the other and made a full-extension stab. LOOK at this play by Chris Sale to begin the 9th inning! | MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale (51) dives to field a ball hit by New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto (22) (not shown) during the ninth inning at Truist Park. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect The 36-year-old left-hander gathered himself, popped to his knees and threw out Soto after making his 108thpitch. Sale stayed in the game and struck out Pete Alonso before Brandon Nimmo singled to chase Sale and ruin his chance at a shutout. Sale scattered five hits and one walk while striking out seven on 116 pitches over 8 2/3 innings. Explore More The Braves fell to a season-worst 10 games under .500 on June 10 but then got hot and won six of their last seven, including a sweep of the then-first-place Mets. Now, a new obstacle. For all the struggles the Braves have endured, Sale has been close to his dominant self. He is 5-4 with a 2.52 ERA and 114 strikeouts in 89 1/3 innings. Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale (51) throws out New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto (22) during the ninth inning at Truist Park. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Its a bad case of dj vu for the Braves, who have had too many recent seasons marred by injury of late. Reynaldo Lopez, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Spencer Strider have all mi sed chunks of the season. Sale only made 11 starts from 2020-22 when his potential Hall of Fame career took a turn. He got it back on track with the Braves last season. Left-hander Austin Cox was recalled from the minors to take Sales spot. Colton Vasek Jersey