Chris Sale's 11 strikeouts and a Ronald Acuña Jr. homer led the Braves to a 7-1 win over the Brewers on June 10, 2025, finally snapping a 7-game skid.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
For the first time in what felt like an eternity, the Atlanta Braves gave their fans a reason to breathe. The agonizing seven-game losing streak is finally over, thanks to a dominant 7-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers that looked like a throwback to better days. Led by a resurgent Chris Sale on the mound and a powerful Ronald Acuña Jr. at the plate, the team finally played the 'complete game' Manager Brian Snitker has been searching for.
He wasn't happy with where he was... he's kind of, I'd say, back to where he was last year.
The biggest sigh of relief came from the man on the mound. Reigning Cy Young winner Chris Sale delivered the kind of performance that has been sorely missed, absolutely baffling the Brewers over seven brilliant innings. Sale racked up 11 strikeouts, flashing the form that made him the best pitcher in the National League last season. After a few rocky starts, this was the ace the Braves desperately needed. 'He wasn't happy with where he was,' Brian Snitker said after the game. 'He worked really hard to figure some things out, and then he's kind of, I'd say, back to where he was last year.' If Sale is truly back, it changes the entire complexion of this pitching staff.
While Sale shut the Brewers down, it was Ronald Acuña Jr. who lit the offensive fuse. In the fifth inning, he blasted a game-tying solo home run, his fifth in just 16 games since returning from his ACL injury. His energy is infectious, and his power is undeniable. Matt Olson followed with a go-ahead two-run shot, and the offense kept piling on with contributions from Eli White and Marcell Ozuna. Acuña was quick to credit his pitcher, saying of Sale, 'He's amazing. He's a superstar, and he's been doing this for so many years.' That mutual respect between the team's biggest stars is exactly what you want to see in a struggling clubhouse.
Let's pump the brakes just a little. As fantastic as this win was, it's just one game. The victory improves the Braves' record to a still-sobering 28-37. They remain nine games under .500, stuck in fourth place in the NL East, and a whopping 13.5 games behind the Mets. The win was only their second in the last ten games, a stark reminder of the hole they've dug. The front office still faces tough questions about whether this team should be buyers or sellers as the trade deadline approaches. This win provides hope, but it doesn't erase the math.
Tuesday's win was a desperately needed dose of medicine. We saw the ace look like an ace and the superstar provide the spark. But the question remains: Was this a fleeting moment of brilliance or the turning point in a season on the brink? The Braves have a long climb ahead, and they'll need many more 'complete games' like this one to get back in the fight.
