Atlanta Braves Start Season Strong with Sale's Stellar Performance
The Atlanta Braves kicked off their season with a bang, as new manager Walt Weiss celebrated his first win at the helm. Leading the charge was Chris Sale, who delivered an electrifying performance on the mound.
"He's just a special guy," Weiss remarked about Sale. "To have someone who can still hit 98 mph at this point in his career is a manager's dream, especially on Opening Day."
Sale was in top form, scattering just three hits over six scoreless innings, guiding the Braves to a commanding 6-0 victory over the Royals. The sellout crowd of 39,697 at Truist Park witnessed Sale's mastery, as he wrapped up his 88-pitch outing with back-to-back fastballs clocking in at 98.1 and 98.3 mph.
This marked Sale's seventh Opening Day start and his second consecutive for the Braves. However, this year was particularly special as it was his first season opener in Atlanta. "Talk about a spike of adrenaline," Sale said, reflecting on the experience.
Last season, the Braves stumbled out of the gate with seven straight losses, and Sale himself struggled early on, posting a 6.17 ERA through his first five starts. This year, both Sale and the team were eager to flip the script.
Sale's dominant outing was supported by stellar defense. He was aided by two double plays in the first two innings and escaped a third-inning jam thanks to Eli White's diving catch that robbed Salvador Perez of a hit. Ronald Acuña Jr. also contributed with a highlight-reel diving grab in the sixth, thwarting another potential Perez hit.
The Braves have set a strong tone for the season, and with Sale leading the charge, fans have plenty to be excited about.