Braves beat Marlins 9-1 as Chris Sale earns seventh win

The Atlanta Braves defeated the Miami Marlins 9-1 on Wednesday night, powered by three-run home runs from Austin Riley and Dominic Smith and a strong pitching performance from starter Chris Sale. The victory came at loanDepot park in Miami.

Sale earned his seventh win of the season, pitching seven innings and allowing just one run on four hits while striking out eight batters. The left-hander, who won the Cy Young Award in 2024, had previously been 0-2 with a 5.30 earned run average in three career starts against Miami. He settled in after allowing a run in the first inning, when Marlins leadoff hitter Xavier Edwards walked and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Heriberto Hernández. Sale did not allow a hit over his final three innings of work.

The Braves took the lead for good in the second inning. Riley hit a 415-foot home run to straightaway center field on the first pitch from Miami starter Janson Junk, giving Atlanta a 3-1 advantage. It was Riley’s first hit of the series after starting 0-for-8.

Atlanta broke the game open with a five-run sixth inning. After Ronald Acuña Jr. led off with a single, consecutive hits by Michael Harris II, Matt Olson, and Ozzie Albies extended...