Braves Top Athletics 5-1 on Baldwin's Four RBIs

Atlanta, GA - Drake Baldwin drove in four runs with key hits in the second and fourth innings, while Chris Sale delivered a dominant pitching performance, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 5-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday in the decisive game of their three-game series at Truist Park.

Baldwin, the reigning National League Rookie of the Year, went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk, extending his hit streak to five of the first six games this season with seven RBIs total. In the second inning, with the bases loaded against Athletics starter Luis Severino, Baldwin lined a two-run single to left field, capitalizing on Severino's control issues after he walked two batters that frame. The Braves added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Baldwin fouled off four straight 3-2 pitches from reliever Elvis Alvarado before lining an 11th-pitch, 97 mph fastball into right-center for a two-run double. Matt Olson followed with an RBI single up the middle to score Baldwin, pushing Atlanta's lead to 5-0.

Sale, improving to 2-0, worked six strong innings, allowing just one run on a single hit while striking out three. The left-hander retired 18 of the 19 batters he faced,...