BOSTON — Chris Sale delivered a standout performance Friday night, striking out eight and pitching seven innings of one-run ball to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 4-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox.
Sale, who previously won a World Series with Boston, secured his first win since April 25. The 36-year-old left-hander allowed five hits and an earned run with two walks, lowering his ERA from 3.97 to 3.62.
The reigning National League Cy Young winner, also a Gold Glove recipient last season, showcased his defensive skills by going down to his knees on a comebacker by Boston’s Nick Sogard and making the play for the first out of the fifth inning.
Sale, who spent six seasons with the Red Sox from 2017 to 2023 and recorded the final out that clinched Boston’s 2018 championship, is now 2-0 against the Red Sox since being traded to Atlanta during the 2023-24 offseason.
Matt Olson and Sean Murphy hit consecutive homers in the second inning for Atlanta. The Braves added two more runs in the ninth when Red Sox reliever Brennan Bernardino issued back-to-back walks with the bases loaded.
Raisel Iglesias allowed an RBI single to Boston’s Trevor Story in the ninth inning but earned his eighth save.
The Braves, now 23-22, became the fifth team to move above .500 after losing seven or more consecutive games to open a season.
Red Sox starter Garrett Crochet, who struck out eight and walked none, allowed only the solo homers in his seven innings on the mound. Jarren Duran had two hits and reached base safely three times against Sale, while Rob Refsnyder hit a solo homer in the seventh.