The Atlanta Braves took on the Milwaukee Brewers in the first game of the series with Chris Sale on the mound to help stop a seven game skid.
The Brewers brought Aaron Civale to the mound, who outside of his first start of the season in which he was injured, has been on a hot streak over his four starts since his return. Austin Riley was able to muster a single in the first inning, but that was the only offense with Acuña and Olson both striking out and Baldwin flying out.
Chris Sale was shaky by his standards in the first inning, but had some help. After Chourio singled, Baldwin threw him out trying to steal on a no doubt call.
Old friend William Contreras grounded out, but Yelich singled. Sale was able to shake it off and strikeout Rhys Hoskins to end the inning.
The second inning looked promising for the offense. Ozuna and Harris had back-to-back singles. Unfortunately, that was all that come from the offense as the next three hitters were sit down in order. Chris Sale come on strong in the second inning and recorded a three-up-three down inning recording a strikeout along the way.
Acuña led off the third with a walk, but Baldwin grounded into a double play, followed by a fly out from Riley. Sale gave up a double to Joey Ortiz to lead off the bottom of the third. Sale looked like he was going to get out of it when he was able to strikeout Turang and get Chourio to fly out which moved Ortiz to third. Former Braves’ fan favorite Contreras came through for his current team knocking in Ortiz from third with a single to make the score 0-1. Sale settled down and struck out former MVP Yelich to end the third.
The Braves offense looked like it had some promise again in the fourth when Olson led off with a walk, followed by Ozuna getting hit by a pitch. However, it was yet again not to be. For some reason the fifth hitter (Harris) moved the runners over with a sacrifice bunt. This was followed by a pop up from Albies and a strikeout looking of Verdugo on a 93.3 MPH fastball that was not close to being a ball.
Chris Sale was much calmer in the fourth. In fact he was about as good as he possibly could be. He struck out all three hitters he faced.
The Braves finally came through in the fifth inning. Nick Allen flied out, but then Acuña hit a no doubter to tie the game.
Baldwin struck out but then then things got even more fun. Austin Riley doubled. This led to Civale being replaced with DL Hall. Matt Olson wasted no time getting to the bullpen by hitting a two-run shot to centerfield to make the score 3-1. Ozuna popped up, but the damage had been done.
Sale continued his strong outing in the fifth. He walked Turang, but that was the only offense for the Brewers in the inning and Sale picked up another strikeout.
In the sixth Harris struck out, but Albies was able to get a single. Eli White then replaced Verdugo, likely due to Hall being a lefty. White hit a sharp 104.1 MPH liner to left, but unfortunately Daz Cameron was there to make the play. Allen then ended the top of the sixth with a pop up.
Chris Sale stayed in the game to pitch the sixth, and had his second inning in which he struck out the side. The Braves’ offense could not keep the runs coming in the seventh. Baldwin walked and moved to second on a passed ball, but that was the only offense that was able to take place.
Sale rightly stayed in the game to pitch the seventh. Cameron singled on a pitch almost right down the middle. Fortunately, Sale was able to limit any damage by sitting down the rest of the hitters he faced.
The eighth inning was kind to the Braves’ offense. Ozuna and and Harris were sat down, but then Albies singled for his 1000th career hit.
This may sound like you have heard this before, but the Brewers made a mound visit and replaced Hall with Grant Anderson. The very next hitter, Eli White, hit a two run shot to center to make the score 5-1. Allen then ended the top half of the inning with a sharp line drive to right.
Chris Sale did start the eighth, but after a his second walk to Turang on the evening, he was replaced by Raisel Iglesias. This is of note that Iglesias came in to pitch the eight, and not the ninth. Chris Sale ended his excellent performance going 7.0 innings allowing just one earned run, five hits, and eleven strikeouts to only two walks.
Iglesias got the job done by recording two strikeouts and a fly out against the top of the order. Acuña recorded his second walk of the game in the ninth to lead it off. Baldwin hit a 101 MPH shot to center field, but it dropped short for the out. Austin Riley then singled on a full count to put two on with one out. Matt Olson then walked to load the bases for Ozuna who promptly hit a two run single to make the score 7-1. Harris popped up to bring up Albies who has two hits on the night. Albies then walked to add to what has been his best walk rate so far in any season of his career. Eli White struck out to end the top of the ninth, but the Braves added the insurance they needed.
Dylan Lee was then brought in to end the game. Lee struck out Hoskins and then was able to get Cameron to fly out and then struck out Frelick to end the game.
The Braves finally broke their losing streak with an exceptional start from reigning Cy Young winner Chris Sale and the offense producing seven runs on seventeen baserunners via eleven hits and six walks.
The Braves will attempt for the same result tomorrow. Same time, same place.
