Chris Sale threw six scoreless innings and the Atlanta Braves hit three home runs to defeat visiting Kansas City 6-0 on Friday and give Walt Weiss a win in his managerial debut.
Sale (1-0) allowed three hits, three walks and struck out six, giving him 2,585 for his career. Sale moved up to No. 30 on the career strikeout list, passing Hall of Famers Bob Feller (2,581) and Warren Spahn (2,583).
Dylan Lee, Robert Suarez and Tyler Kinley each pitched a scoreless inning to finish the game.
Atlanta’s 11-hit attack was sparked by homers from Ozzie Albies, Drake Baldwin and Michael Harris II. Austin Riley was 3-for-3 with a run scored.
Sale received strong support from his defense. The infield executed double plays in the first and second innings. Left fielder Eli White made a sliding catch to prevent a double. Vinnie Pasquantino was robbed twice — first baseman Matt Olson prevented a double in the fourth, and third baseman Riley stretched out to scoop a line drive single in the sixth. Right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. made a backhanded shoestring catch to take away an extra-base hit from Salvador Perez.
Cole Ragans (0-1), making his third straight opening day start, took the loss. He worked four innings and allowed four runs on six hits, five strikeouts and four walks. He allowed all three homers.
The Braves scored a run in the first inning when Albies, batting third because of his skill against left-handed pitching, launched a changeup into the left-field corner for a solo homer.
Atlanta struck again when Baldwin hit a solo homer off the top of the brick wall in right field. It came against the left-hander Ragans, who did not allow a homer to a left-handed batter last season.
The Braves used the longball again in the fifth. Harris drove a two-run shot into the seats in right field to give Atlanta a 4-0 lead.
Atlanta tacked on two more runs on Mauricio Dubon’s double in the seventh.
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