Drake Baldwin, Chris Sale lead Braves to 5-1 win against A's

Baldwin drove in four runs to support Sale's stellar pitching effort in the rubber game of the series.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 12:35am

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Drake Baldwin drove in four runs and Chris Sale pitched six strong innings to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 5-1 victory over the visiting Oakland Athletics on Wednesday. Baldwin's two-run double in the fourth inning helped the Braves pull away after they had taken an early lead. Sale, who is now just 19 strikeouts away from catching Atlanta great Tom Glavine for 29th on the all-time list, allowed only one run on one hit with three strikeouts over six innings.

Why it matters

The win gives the Braves their second straight series victory to start the season, continuing their strong start after making the playoffs last year. For the A's, the loss is their second in the three-game set, as they look to bounce back after a tough 2025 campaign.

The details

Baldwin was 2-for-3 with a double and a walk, and his two-run double in the fourth inning gave the Braves some insurance runs. Sale retired 18 of the 19 batters he faced, with his only blemish being a solo home run by Shea Langeliers in the fourth inning. The Braves bullpen of Robert Suarez, Dylan Lee, and Raisel Iglesias combined for three scoreless innings to close out the win.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, April 2, 2026.
  • Sale now has 2,858 career strikeouts, leaving him 19 away from catching Atlanta great Tom Glavine for 29th on the all-time list.

The players

Drake Baldwin

The reigning Rookie of the Year, Baldwin drove in four runs to support the Braves' pitching effort.

Chris Sale

The veteran Braves pitcher worked six innings and allowed one run on one hit with three strikeouts.

Shea Langeliers

The Athletics' catcher hit a solo home run, his league-leading fifth of the season, to account for his team's only run.

Luis Severino

The losing pitcher for the Athletics, Severino struggled with control and was pulled after 3 1/3 innings after allowing four runs on four hits and five walks.

Ronald Acuna Jr.

The Braves outfielder was picked off first base in the first inning, the team's third pickoff through the first six games.

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What they’re saying

“Drake Baldwin was the difference-maker for us today. His big hit in the fourth inning really gave us some breathing room and allowed Chris to settle in and do his thing on the mound.”

— Brian Snitker, Braves Manager

What’s next

The Braves will look to continue their strong start to the season when they host the Dodgers for a three-game series starting on Friday. The A's will try to bounce back when they return home to face the Mariners this weekend.

The takeaway

This game showcased the Braves' offensive firepower and pitching depth, as Baldwin and Sale led the way to another series victory. For the A's, it was a tough loss but they'll look to regroup and try to build some momentum as they continue their season.