Braves offense misses Chris Sale in 0-1 loss to White Sox

Chris Sale once again delivered a great performance, but the Atlanta Braves offense was already on its way home to Atlanta after a 1-0 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

Thursday’s game was his first start against his old team as a member of the Braves. He struck out Tommy Pham and then grounded out Andrew Vaughn. However, Luis Robert Jr. jumped on a first-pitch slider and struck it out to give the White Sox an early 1-0 lead.

The Braves struggled to get anything going against Chicago starter Chad Kuhl, who was pitching after a three-day rest. Kuhl walked Austin Riley to start the second inning, but he was wiped out when Sean Murphy hit into a double play.

The Braves missed a chance in the fourth inning. Ozzie Albies opened the inning with a double. That ended Kuhl’s afternoon as the White Sox called Justin Anderson out of their bullpen. Marcell Ozuna worked a walk and put runners on first and second base, but Anderson struck out Matt Olson, Riley and Murphy to end the inning.

Atlanta had the first batter on the line again in the fifth inning when Forrest Wall came in with a bunt single against former Braves rookie Jared Shuster. However, Adam Duvall struck out and Orlando Arcia made another double play.

Sale came in for the Braves after Robert’s home run. He allowed a leadoff single to Danny Mendick in the third inning, but struck out the next three batters, leaving him helpless. Robert led off the fourth inning with a single, but Sale got Eloy Jimenez to hit a 4-6-3 double play. He struck out Paul DeJong and ended the threat.

Sale managed four straight strikeouts between the fifth and sixth innings before Vaughn hit a double to the right of the wall. However, Sale got Robert to ground out to Arcia on a close play, ending the inning.

Atlanta’s offense continued to struggle against Shuster, who struck out seven batters in a row before allowing a walk to Murphy with two outs in the seventh inning. He got Wall to fly out to left to finish three scoreless innings in relief.

Sale returned for the seventh inning and retired the team in order. He left the game after allowing four hits, one walk and one run in seven innings. He posted a season-high 11 strikeouts while throwing 105 pitches.

The Braves threatened again in the eighth inning against White Sox relief pitcher John Brebbia, but again failed to score a run. Arcia opened the deal with a one-out single. He was replaced by pinch-hitter Zack Short, who advanced to second base on a Jarred Kelenic walk. After a visit to the mound, Ozzie Albies took a 2-0 lead, but was grounded out for the second out. Ozuna flied to the base of the wall in right, leaving the runners helpless.

Daysbel Hernandez retired the team in order in the eighth. Michael Kopech struck out Olson and then got Riley to ground out early in the ninth. Down to the final strike, Murphy sent a grounder to shortstop that Paul DeJong waved off for an error. There were to be no late-game heroics, however, as pinch hitter Travis d’Arnaud flied to center and ended the game.

Atlanta’s offense managed just three hits in a disappointing performance. They were 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base.

The loss drops the Braves’ record to 44-35 for the season. After starting their road trip with a series win over the Yankees, they finished with three of four losses to the Cardinals and White Sox. They return home to Truist Park on Friday to begin a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.