Chris Sale Returns to Fenway and Helps Braves Finally Climb Over .500

Chris Sale had a day in his Fenway Return.

Braves vs Red Sox Via House of Highlights

The Atlanta Braves strolled into Boston fresh off a series win over the Washington Nationals and standing at 22-22. Atlanta had yet to secure a winning record this season, and in game 45 of their schedule, tonight felt like a perfect time to flip that narrative. Chris Sale made his first start against the Red Sox since being traded to the Braves back in December of 2023. Boston countered with Garrett Crochet, who entered with a 4-2 record and a sharp 1.93 ERA. It had all the makings of a classic pitcher’s duel, something Braves fans have become used to seeing this season.

Garrett Crochet opened the game locked in, striking out the side in order. His four-seam fastball and sweeper were working early and often. Chris Sale, returning to the mound in Fenway Park, issued a leadoff walk to Jarren Duran but quickly found his rhythm. He struck out Rafael Devers and induced a groundout and fly out to keep things even.

When Sale came back out for the second, he had something rare riding with him, an early lead. After Crochet blazed through the first inning, Matt Olson stepped up and finally snapped out of his slump. Olson launched a solo shot over the Green Monster to give Atlanta a 1-0 lead. Next up, Sean Murphy followed suit with another homer over the Monster and the Braves had a 2-0 cushion.

That was a welcome surprise on a Friday night. Just earlier, I had written about how the Braves had been slacking in the home run department. They answered that right away in the second inning. Good to see Matt Olson start with a bang. It was much needed for him. Sean Murphy reminded everyone he still has some power too. If he gets going again, Atlanta will be in a great spot with both him and Drake Baldwin contributing behind the plate and in the box.

After that burst, Sale and Crochet settled in and went back and forth. Each of them worked clean frames and quieted opposing bats. Sale looked sharp, mixing speeds and keeping Boston hitters guessing. Through five innings, he struck out seven, allowed only two hits, and gave up no runs. His command looked sharp and the Red Sox weren’t squaring him up.

Crochet matched him nearly pitch for pitch. After allowing the early homers, he tightened things up and kept Atlanta off the board. He got through six innings having only allowed four hits and no walks, along with five strikeouts. Both starters had manageable pitch counts and looked ready to go deep into the game.

The bottom of the sixth saw Jarren Duran reach base for the third time, this time with a single up the middle. He had already drawn a walk and collected a hit earlier. Sale wasn’t fazed, though. He retired Devers and Alex Bregman on fly outs before catching Duran trying to steal, ending the inning.

In the top of the seventh, the Braves had a golden opportunity. After Marcell Ozuna struck out looking, Matt Olson notched his second hit of the night. Murphy followed with a single, and Ozzie Albies singled on a grounder down the third base line that Bregman couldn’t come up with. The Braves had the bases loaded with one out. But once again, the bats fizzled. Michael Harris II and Stuart Fairchild both struck out, and Atlanta came up empty.

That missed opportunity nearly stung in the bottom of the frame. Rob Refsnyder led off and turned on a hanging slider from Sale, driving it over the left field fence to cut the Braves’ lead to 2-1. It was one of the few mistakes Sale made all night. Nick Sogard followed with a single off the Monster but got too aggressive trying to stretch it. Eli White fielded it clean and fired a strike to second to throw him out and end the inning.

Crochet’s night was done after seven innings. He gave up seven hits, walked two, and struck out eight. He left with a 2.00 ERA after another strong performance, even in a losing effort. Greg Weissert took over in the eighth and kept the Braves in check.

Chris Sale’s line was one to smile about. He went seven strong, allowing just one run on five hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. His ERA dropped to 3.62, and it was exactly the kind of outing Atlanta needed from their veteran lefty.

After the game, Sale reflected on his return to Fenway Park, where he spent seven memorable seasons. "I love it here. You know, I think that there's no secret," Sale said. "I've always enjoyed, you know, even when I was with Chicago coming here and playing. You know, I spent seven years here and had some really good moments out there, and I just I appreciate this place for what it is."

Sale later further responded to the emotional aspects of returning to Fenway Park, saying:

"Well, you just, I mean, it's like walking into your childhood home," he said. "You know, you just have a lot of memories that you've built, a lot of relationships that you still have and appreciate. You just try to push all those to the wayside and do your job. Just go out there and try to win a ball game, because the ceremony stops at pitch one."

Sale definitely handled tonight well, and it showed in his performance. On a Friday night at Fenway Park, I am sure it felt like he was home again, because he sure looked comfortable on the mound.

Daysbel Hernández took the mound in the eighth and looked sharp, firing 98 mph fastballs with life. He retired the Red Sox after a walk to Carolos Narváez, including striking out Duran with a heater that had serious movement.

Boston went to Liam Hendriks in the ninth, and he pitched carefully around Marcell Ozuna, issuing a walk. Olson struck out, and Murphy grounded out before Albies worked a walk to keep things going. Cora made a move to bring in Brennan Bernardino to face Harris. Bernardino walked him on four pitches, and suddenly the Braves had the bases loaded again. Stuart Fairchild, who had missed earlier, walked this time to score a run and extend the lead to 3-1. Then Nick Allen worked another walk to make it 4-1. Bernardino didn’t have it, and Cora went to Nick Burdi, who finally got Eli White to ground out and end the frame.

Raisel Iglesias took over in the bottom of the ninth looking to secure the save. He hit Bregman with a pitch, and Trevor Story later brought him home with a two-out RBI single. But Iglesias shut it down from there, and the Braves walked away with a 4-2 win in game one of the series.

Atlanta finally got back over .500 with a 23-22 record. Chris Sale earned the win in his return to Fenway, improving to 2-3. Garrett Crochet took the loss and fell to 4-3. Iglesias earned his eighth save.