The Atlanta Braves are on an absolute tear, and Saturday night's 9-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies was another showcase of their dominance. Rookie catcher Drake Baldwin stole the show with a home run and four RBIs, while veteran ace Chris Sale continued his relentless march through the league.
Sale, a nine-time All-Star, was virtually untouchable over seven innings, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out 11. The win improved his MLB-leading record to 6-1, and in his last four starts, he's been nearly unhittable—surrendering only three earned runs with 33 strikeouts over 26 innings. It's the kind of form that makes you wonder if he's found the fountain of youth.
The Braves' offense provided plenty of support. Austin Riley and Matt Olson both went deep, with Olson's 414-foot blast in the ninth—his team-leading 11th of the season—highlighting the power display. Ozzie Albies extended his hitting streak to 14 games with two hits, including his eighth double. Baldwin, meanwhile, matched his career high with three hits, falling just a triple short of the cycle.
There was one concerning moment, however. Ronald Acuña Jr. exited in the second inning with left hamstring tightness after pulling up while running out a grounder. The Braves' medical staff examined him before he walked off gingerly. No immediate update was provided, but fans will be holding their breath for the reigning MVP's health.
For the Rockies, it was a tough night all around. Starter Brennan Bernardino was pulled after just two-thirds of an inning, having surrendered Baldwin's two-run homer in the first. Chase Dollander took over and allowed a season-high six runs over 5.1 innings—a stark contrast to his stellar April. Jordan Beck provided Colorado's only highlight with an RBI double in the third.
The Braves have now won 14 of their last 17 games, improving their MLB-best record to 24-10. They've also owned the Rockies recently, going 22-6 against them since 2022 and winning 13 of their last 16 at Coors Field. The series finale on Sunday features a marquee matchup: Colorado's Kyle Freeland (1-2, 3.48 ERA) against Atlanta's Spencer Strider, who'll make his season debut.
For Braves fans, this is the kind of run that makes you believe anything is possible. And for those of us who love the game, it's a reminder that when the bats are hot and the pitching is elite, baseball doesn't get much better than this.