03/27/26 08:55:00
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03/27 20:53 CDT 3 homers, strong start by Chris Sale carry Braves to 6-0 win
over Royals on opening night in Atlanta
3 homers, strong start by Chris Sale carry Braves to 6-0 win over Royals on
opening night in Atlanta
By PAUL NEWBERRY
Associated Press
ATLANTA (AP) --- The Braves homered three times to back six strong innings by
Chris Sale, leading Atlanta to a 6-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals on
opening night Friday.
Coming off an injury plagued season that ended their streak of seven straight
playoff appearances and already plagued by an ailing starting rotation, Sale
(1-0) provided just what the Braves needed. He allowed three hits and three
walks with six strikeouts before giving way to the bullpen.
Ozzie Albies homered in the first, reigning NL rookie of the year Drake Baldwin
went deep in the third, and Michael Harris II added a two-run shot off Royals
starter Cole Ragans (0-1) in the fourth. The left-hander was lifted after that
inning, having surrendered six hits with four walks.
Braves newcomer Mauricio Dubn finished off the scoring, driving in two runs
with a double to the gap in right-center against Bailey Falter in the seventh.
There are plenty of doubts about the Braves rotation after Spencer
Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep went down in the spring training before
Spencer Strider joined them on the injured list late in camp. For one night at
least, Sale showed that the top of the starting staff is in good hands.
The bullpen looks much stronger, with former San Diego closer Robert Surez
working a scoreless eighth in his new role as the Braves set-up man for Raisel
Iglesias.
Atlanta also made a winner of new manager Walt Weiss, who took over after the
departure of Brian Snitker. It was Weiss' first victory in the top role since
2016, when he finished up a four-year run as Colorado's manager.
Up next
Royals: RHP Michael Wacha takes the mound in the second of three games in the
series at Truist Park. He is 1-4 with a 4.42 ERA in nine career outings against
Atlanta, including seven starts.
Braves: RHP Reynaldo Lpez makes his first start in exactly a year. He went
five innings against San Diego on March 28, 2025, before being shut down for
the rest of the season with shoulder issues.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
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