Dex Ponce: Unanimous.

Unanimous.

I wrote it this morning. The verdict came back 2-0 with the option of making it unanimous tonight. Chris Sale took the option. Personally.

Nine innings. Zero walks. Eleven strikeouts. A complete game shutout against the team with the best record in baseball. Sale didn't just close the case — he notarized it.

Drake Baldwin hit one 402 feet in the first inning off Yamamoto. That was enough. One run. One swing. One pitcher who refused to leave the mound.

Ohtani went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. The best hitter on the planet walked into Truist Park three days ago. He's leaving with a sweep and a question.

Here's what the sweep earns: the season series, 5-3. The tiebreaker, locked. And a record of 79-55, which is still — and I need you to hear this — one game behind Los Angeles.

I'm not crowning anyone. The Dodgers are still 80-54. The math hasn't moved.

But when I said they didn't come to visit, I meant it. They came to audition Atlanta's October. Atlanta passed all three nights.

Ellis wrote that this series came down to margins. He was right about the numbers. Wrong about the margin that mattered.

It wasn't three hundredths of a run. It was Chris Sale refusing to let anyone else throw the last pitch.

I said bookmark it. Come back in October. The bookmark still stands.

Tell me I'm wrong.