On Wednesday night, Chris Sale delivered an outstanding pitching performance, missing a complete game shutout by just one out. Sale dominated the New York Mets, helping the Atlanta Braves secure a convincing 5-0 victory, thanks also to key home runs from Ronald Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson.
Early Offensive Firepower From Acuña Jr. Sparks Braves
Right from the first pitch, Ronald Acuña Jr. made an immediate statement, launching a Paul Blackburn fastball over the center field wall to put Atlanta ahead 1-0. The early homer set the tone for the Braves’ offense in what would become a strong team effort to support Sale’s masterful outing.
Braves Extend Lead on Unusual Mets Mistake and Consistent Hitting
After Acuña’s homer, Verdugo singled and Riley reached base on a walk, setting up Matt Olson to advance the runners with a groundout. The Mets then encountered a rare miscue when catcher Luis Torrens used his mask to field a bouncing ball, enabling runners to score on the play. Following that, Ozuna contributed with a sacrifice fly, pushing the lead to 3-0.
In the fourth inning, Ozzie Albies doubled and eventually scored on a wild pitch that again rattled Torrens, highlighting the catcher’s difficult game behind the plate. Despite the Mets’ struggles, the Braves offense stayed patient and effective.
Matt Olson’s Seventh-Inning Home Run Seals the Game
The middle innings saw little action at the plate until Matt Olson belted a home run to the Chop House in the seventh inning, extending the lead to 5-0. Olson’s power display gave Sale comfortable cushion late in the game and further dampened the Mets’ chances of a comeback.
Sale’s Command Stifles Mets for 8.2 Scoreless Innings
Chris Sale, working with extra rest, was in excellent form, dissecting the Mets lineup with precision. Over 116 pitches, including 85 strikes, Sale allowed just five singles and one walk, while striking out six batters. This performance marked his deepest outing since 2019 and improved his season ERA to 2.52, demonstrating he remains one of the game’s premier left-handed pitchers.
Upcoming Series Finale Focuses on Strider and Holmes Showdown
The Braves will look to close the series on Thursday night behind Spencer Strider, who hopes to continue his recent success following a strong outing against the Rockies. Strider’s enhanced fastball velocity and improved slider break will be tested against the Mets’ Clay Holmes, a reliever-turned-starter enjoying a solid season with a 2.87 ERA and promising strikeout metrics. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET.