If you’re looking for a drama-filled night at the ballpark, Tuesday’s Braves vs Reds showdown had it all. There were missed chances, extra innings, and a walk off scenario.
But behind the bottom-of-the-10th heroics and Michael Harris II’s clutch ninth-inning double, there was a deeper storyline brewing—Atlanta’s pitching staff showed up in a major way.
Sale Sharpens the Blade
Let’s start with the veteran lefty. Chris Sale hadn’t been bad this season—he just hadn’t looked like Chris Sale. Velocity dips, shaky command, and hittable sliders are the signs that there was something just a little off. But against the Reds? Sale was back to looking like the guy who used to strike fear into the hearts of hitters.
He was living in the mid-90s with his fastball, painting corners and dialing up that nasty slider with sharp, biting movement. The final line? 6.2 innings, five hits, no earned runs, two walks, and 10 strikeouts. It was a vintage performance and couldn’t have come at a better time for the team and for Sale himself.
Braves Relievers Answer the Call
But Sale didn’t carry this alone. The bullpen was electric.
- Daysbel Hernandez gave up a run, sure, but only because Elly De La Cruz is basically a human cheat code on the basepaths. Outside of that, he was rock solid.
- Rafael Montero, who’s been on Braves fans’ “please-don’t-blow-it” watch list since arriving via trade, put up a clean inning with just a walk and no damage.
- And Raisel Iglesias—oh boy, did he need that 10th inning. The usual closer hasn’t been his shutdown self lately, but this outing? Seven pitches, two strikeouts, one lineout. That’s a return to form if we’ve ever seen one.
Braves Offense Frustrates, Then Delivers
Let’s not pretend the Braves’ offense didn’t test fans’ patience. Atlanta had chance after chance to break the game open—and just couldn’t cash in. But when it mattered most? Harris lashed a double to tie it in the ninth, and Marcell Ozuna came through in the 10th with the dagger.
A Win That Meant More Than Just the W
This wasn’t just a win. It was a therapy session for a pitching staff that needed a boost, and a reminder that baseball is a team sport in every sense. The Braves found a way, and sometimes, that’s more valuable than a seven-run blowout. The team needed to prove they can still win tight games.
