ATLANTA -- A motivated Marcell Ozuna delivered a walk-off single after Austin Riley was intentionally walked in front of him. Michael Harris II halted a frustrating skid with a game-tying double in the ninth. And a rejuvenated Raisel Iglesias worked a perfect 10th.
A lot went right for the Braves, especially in the final stages of their 2-1, 10-inning win over the Reds on Tuesday night at Truist Park. But looking at the big picture, the key development took shape as Chris Sale further distanced himself from early-season struggles with a second straight dominant start.
“It’s kind of like vintage Chris Sale now,” manager Brian Snitker said. “The last two or three times out, it's been really good.”
Six days after seeing his first double-digit strikeout performance of the season wasted in a 2-1 loss to the Rockies at Coors Field, Sale was staring at the possibility of a similar outcome. He notched 10 strikeouts over 6 2/3 scoreless innings, but the Braves remained scoreless until pinch-runner Stuart Fairchild scored from first base on Harris’ double in the ninth.
Harris halted a 1-for-22 skid with his big contribution. Ozuna entered extra innings just 4-for-29 going back to April 28. This, in addition to the left leg cramp he briefly felt in his eighth inning at-bat, likely led to the Reds’ decision to intentionally walk Riley to begin the bottom of the 10th. But with the double play in order, Ozuna laced his game-winner to the left-field corner.
“Games like this can pick up some steam for you and get you catapulted in the right direction,” Sale said. “So it was a fun, fun clubhouse.”
There has been plenty for the Braves to like as they have gone 12-5 dating back to April 18. The Royals (13-4) are the only team with a better record during this stretch.
It’s no coincidence that Sale has posted a 1.96 ERA in the four starts he has made within this successful span. The 2024 National League Cy Young Award winner has come a long way since constructing a 6.63 ERA through his first four starts. It also wasn’t a coincidence that Atlanta went 4-11 during this span that ran through April 13.
Sale ranks eighth all-time with 89 double-digit strikeout games. Tuesday marked the first time this season that he has recorded 10-plus strikeouts in consecutive starts. The only time he did this last year was over a three-start stretch from Aug. 7-17.
“He’s looked like the Cy Young winner he is,” Harris said. “I guess the last two starts, we weren’t able to produce runs while he was on the mound. But it was just good to come out with a win.”
The Braves will win plenty of Sale’s future starts if he continues to pitch like he has, especially over the past week. The lanky left-hander induced 24 swings and misses during last week’s loss in Colorado. That season-high total was greater than any he recorded in 2024.
The 18 swings-and-misses he generated on Tuesday night stand as his seventh highest total over these past two seasons. Eight of those whiffs came against his four-seam fastball. He hadn’t gotten more than five with his heater in any of his first seven starts this year and he notched eight-plus with this pitch in just two starts in ‘24.
“I have so much respect for that guy and the way he goes about it and the teammate he is and just how competitive he is,” Snitker said. “It’s a lot of fun being on his team.”
Sale’s determination and perseverance guided him to the Cy Young Award after injuries limited him to just 151 innings from 2020-23. His frustration showed as he repeatedly said he “sucked” during this season’s first few weeks. But once again, it looks like he still has plenty to offer.
“I'm appreciative of all the help that I've gotten, because it's not just me going out there and figuring it out,” Sale said. “I’ve just got to keep trying to ride it out and try not to suck.”