ATLANTA — Chris Sale forgot the home run he allowed on his seventh pitch of the game and Dominican Marcell Ozuna maintains his torrid start to the season with two more RBIs to lead the Atlanta Braves’ victory against the Cleveland Guardians on Friday in the first game of the series between the two best teams in the MLB.
The Braves, the reigning NL East champions, won for the 10th time in 11 games and improved to 18-6 to move one game ahead of the AL-leading Guardians (18-8).
Sale (3-1) allowed a home run to the first batter he faced. Steven Kwan hit a 389-foot shot to right field that bounced near the Chop House restaurant. Braves Venezuelan right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. didn’t even have to move while Kwan rounded the bases.
That was basically the only thing that escaped Sale, who allowed just one more hit in seven innings for his third consecutive start. He walked one and struck out six with 67 of 95 pitches for strikes.
For the Guardians, the Dominicans José Ramírez 4-1, Ramón Laureano 4-0. Venezuelan Gabriel Arias 4-1.
For the Braves, the Venezuelans Acuña Jr. 3-0 with one run scored, Orlando Arcia 4-2 with one run scored and one RBI. Dominican Ozuna was 3-1 with one run scored and two RBIs.
