Atlanta Braves rock Chris Sale
By Fred Owens
The Atlanta Braves got another early lead but today they held it , taking game three 7 – 1 from the Red Sox.
Atlanta Braves starters left early on Friday and Saturday their bullpen couldn’t hold the lead when it had one. That ended Sunday on a chilly Boston Sunday as the lineup forced Chris Sale into an early shower.
Masterful Mike
The Atlanta Braves see Mike Foltynewicz as a top of the rotation pitcher. Today he showed why, baffling a potent Red Sox lineup with a mixture of heat, breaking pitches and consistency.
As expected Sale cruised through the first inning and Foltynewicz followed suit retiring the Sox in order on 10 pitches. Sale ran into immediate trouble in the second, walking Nick Markakis and giving up a single to DH Kurt Suzuki.
After Ender Inciarte attempted to get a bunt down and popped up to third, Sale’s old battery mate Tyler Flowers took an 0-2 pitch over the Green Monster and out of Fenway to put the Braves up 3-0.
In the home half Mike walked Dustin Pedroia then struck out Rafael Devers and Eduardo Nunez.
The Sox scratched Mookie Betts just before game time and inserted Blake Swihart. Swihart worked a walk from Folty but Sandy Leone couldn’t catch up with a 97 mph fast ball and struck out ending the threat.
Both pitchers seemed to be in charge in the third, Sales needing just 12 pitches to retire the Braves. Folty issued a one out walk then coaxed Xander Bogaerts to ground into a double play.
Sale- sorry sold out
Inciarte’s double provided the only hit for either side in the fourth. but Sale would not be so lucky in the fifth.
Swanson led off with a walk to start the Braves half of the fifth. After Sale wild pitched him to second, Charlie Culberson looped a single into right that scooted between Jackie Bradley Jr.’s legs. Swanson scored and Culberson scooted to second
After an Albies ground out, Ronald Acuna Jr. walked and Freddie Freeman laced a double off the short bullpen wall in right scoring Culberson. Freeman took third on the throw and Sale headed or the shower.
The game was essentially over at that point but it wasn’t the end of the action.