Chris Sale strikes out 11 as the Atlanta Braves dominate the Milwaukee Brewers 7-1 on June 9, 2025. Recap the Brewers' deepening offensive slump.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a tough night at American Family Field as the Milwaukee Brewers were completely shut down by an old nemesis, Chris Sale. The lanky lefty was in vintage form, fanning a season-high 11 Brewers over seven masterful innings, leading the Atlanta Braves to a decisive 7-1 victory on Monday.
The Brewers have now scored a grand total of just four runs in their last three games.
The Brewers' offense simply had no answers for Chris Sale. The Braves' ace was practically unhittable, scattering five hits and allowing just a single run. That lone bright spot came in the third inning when Joey Ortiz smacked a leadoff double and was later driven in by a two-out William Contreras single. Outside of that, it was a night of swings and misses. On the other side of the ball, it was a struggle for Brewers starter Aaron Civale, who took the loss after surrendering multiple long balls, including shots from Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson, and Eli White.
Monday's loss wasn't an isolated incident; it was the continuation of a deeply concerning offensive funk. Scoring just one run against a pitcher of Sale's caliber is one thing, but it highlights a bigger problem. The team has pushed across only four runs in their last three contests, a troubling statistic for a team with playoff aspirations. As the Brewers sit third in the NL Central with a 35-32 record, finding offensive consistency, especially against the league's best pitchers, has become priority number one.
There's no time to dwell on the loss, as the Crew gets right back at it on Tuesday. Right-hander Quinn Priester (3-2, 3.88 ERA) gets the ball for the second game of the series. He'll be tasked with playing the role of stopper and cooling off a hot Braves lineup. Priester will face off against Atlanta's Grant Holmes (3-4, 3.99 ERA) in a crucial matchup. A strong start from Priester could be just what the team needs to reset and get back in the win column.
The pressure is on for the Brewers to bounce back. Tuesday's game is more than just another contest; it's a chance for the offense to prove it can shake off this slump and for Quinn Priester to deliver a much-needed quality start. Can the Crew solve the Braves and get their bats going? We'll find out tonight.
