Chris Sale delivered six scoreless innings on Thursday, helping the Atlanta Braves defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 9-3 in the second game of a split doubleheader. Sale’s strong performance was central to the Braves’ victory, providing crucial pitching stability after the team struggled in recent games.
Key Contributions Propel Atlanta’s Offense
Austin Riley played a major role for the Braves, hitting a home run and a double while driving in four runs. Ozzie Albies also contributed significantly, bringing in three RBIs, while Luke Williams added two RBIs of his own. These offensive efforts helped Atlanta break a losing streak, as the team had dropped six of seven prior contests.
Sale’s Milestone and Pitching Details
Sale improved to 3-3 on the season, allowing just two hits and walking three batters while striking out eight. His final strikeout, against Edmundo Sosa to end the sixth inning, marked the 2,500th strikeout of his career. Despite facing challenges, Sale maintained composure, shutting down the Phillies’ offense throughout his outing.
Phillies Struggle Without Bryce Harper
The Phillies, who had won the earlier day game 5-4, had difficulty generating offense in the nightcap, missing star hitter Bryce Harper due to an elbow contusion sustained earlier in the series. Starter Zack Wheeler, coming off a streak of 22 2/3 scoreless innings, surrendered six runs over 5 1/3 innings. Wheeler allowed four hits and issued a season-high four walks, striking out six despite not having his best form.
Breaking Down the Game’s Turning Points
Though Wheeler held the Phillies hitless through much of the early innings, the Braves broke through in the fourth inning. Marcell Ozuna’s single started the scoring, followed by a double from Matt Olson and a two-run double by Austin Riley. Albies immediately extended the lead with a home run on Wheeler’s next pitch. Philadelphia threatened in the fifth inning by loading the bases with two outs, but Alec Bohm grounded out to end the threat.
In the sixth, Atlanta expanded their lead further after drawing two walks against Wheeler, who was then relieved by Carlos Hernandez. Hernandez gave up two hits, including Luke Williams’ two-run single, putting the Braves ahead 6-0. Riley added a two-run homer in the seventh off Joe Ross, making it 8-0 before the Phillies finally scored in the later innings.
Late Phillies Runs Offer Minor Rally
Philadelphia managed to score twice in the eighth inning against Michael Petersen, including an RBI single from Edmundo Sosa. They added another run in the ninth on a Trea Turner RBI hit off of Raisel Iglesias, narrowing the final margin but falling short of a comeback.
Implications for Braves Moving Forward
This commanding win highlighted Chris Sale’s ability to deliver strong performances under pressure, marking a hopeful turn for the Braves after a difficult stretch. With key offensive players like Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies contributing effectively, Atlanta looks to build on this momentum in upcoming games against Philadelphia and beyond.