Braves' Offense Struggles, Chris Sale Implodes in 6-2 Loss to Angels

Braves' recent slump continues as they fall to the Angels despite an early homer from Drake Baldwin

Apr. 12, 2026 at 8:35am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape, capturing the fragmented and chaotic nature of the Braves' loss.The Braves' offensive struggles and Chris Sale's implosion against the Angels expose the team's lack of depth and consistency.Anaheim Today

The Braves' recent slump continued on Monday night as they suffered a 6-2 loss to the Angels, with Chris Sale's implosion and an invisible offense leaving them in a tough spot. While Drake Baldwin's early homer gave the Braves a glimmer of hope, it was quickly snuffed out by Jose Soriano's dominant pitching performance.

Why it matters

This loss extends the Braves' losing streak to three games and drops them to 6-5 on the season after a 6-2 start. The Braves' struggles highlight the importance of depth and consistency in building a winning roster, as their reliance on high-risk, high-reward players has left them vulnerable when their starters struggle.

The details

Sale, on the other hand, had a night to forget. He gave up a homer on the first pitch to Zach Neto, and after settling in, he completely unraveled in the fourth inning. A hit by pitch, single, walk, walk, groundout, hit by pitch, and single saw the Angels score four runs, and Jo Adell's two-run homer in the fifth inning sealed the deal. The Braves' offense was non-existent, going down 1-2-3 in the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh innings.

  • The Braves' loss on Monday night extended their losing streak to three games.
  • The series continues in Anaheim on Tuesday night, with Reynaldo Lopez facing lefty Yusei Kikuchi.

The players

Chris Sale

The Braves' starting pitcher, who had a disastrous outing, giving up six runs in 4.1 innings.

Jose Soriano

The Angels' starting pitcher, who pitched a masterful game, allowing just one run on three hits over eight innings with 10 strikeouts and no walks.

Drake Baldwin

The Braves' hitter, who hit an early home run to give the team a brief lead.

Zach Neto

The Angels' hitter, who hit a home run on the first pitch of the game.

Jo Adell

The Angels' hitter, who hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning to seal the win for the Angels.

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What they’re saying

“We must find a way to get our offense going and get Sale back on track if we want to turn this series around.”

— Mauricio Dubon, Braves Outfielder

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.