Chris Sale’s 300th start and Marcell Ozuna’s walk-off helped the Braves beat the Reds

Atlanta Braves #51 Chris Sale (LHP) had ten strikeouts and gave up five hits against the Cincinnati Reds in his 300th career- pitching start. Photo by Skylar Blackmon/TGSportstv1 May 6, 2025.

ATLANTA - The Atlanta Braves put their 2024 Cy Young Award winner, pitcher Chris Sale (LHP), to start the game, and held the Cincinnati Reds scoreless for 6.2 innings and 10 strikeouts long enough for his teammate Marcell Ozuna (DH) to deliver the winning run 2-1 with a walk-off single to left field in the bottom of the tenth inning.

"I'm appreciative of all the help that I've gotten, because it's not just me going out there and figuring it out," Sale said. "I've just got to keep trying to ride it out and try not to suck."

It was Sale's 300th pitching start in his career in MLB, and has a 1.96 ERA in his last four starts, and helped Atlanta since April 18 improve to (12-5), and their record to (17-18).

"It's kind of like vintage Chris Sale now," manager Brian Snitker said. "The last two or three times out, it's been really good."

The Reds' starting pitcher, Andrew Abbott, did his job and held the Braves scoreless for 5.2 innings, and had eight strikeouts before Emilio Pagan (RHP) gave up a run in the bottom of the ninth inning, and Lyon Richardson (RHP) the winning run in the bottom of the tenth inning.

The game was tied 1-1 in the bottom of the ninth inning, thanks to Michael Harris II (CF) with one out, hitting a line drive for a double into right field, and Stuart Fairchild (PR) scored.

With the game being tied 1-1 in the bottom of the tenth inning, the Reds decided to walk intentionally Austin Riley (3B) before facing Ozuna, making them pay for that move with the game-winning walk-off single, and Alex Verdugo came across home plate for the win.

On Wednesday, Grant Holmes (RHP, 2-2) will take the mound for the Atlanta Braves.