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Typically, when players are annoyed with themselves, they take their frustration out on something else. Not Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale.
In the fourth inning of the Braves’ 6-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night at Angel Stadium, Sale hit the ball off his head in anger.
Sale, 37, threw a slider well outside the strike zone to Angels first baseman Jeimer Candelario to walk the bases loaded with no outs with the game tied 1-1. Braves catcher Drake Baldwin threw the ball to Sale, who caught it with his bare hand instead of his glove, dropped the ball, picked it up and hit it against his head.
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Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale reacts after hitting Los Angeles Angels third baseman Yoan Moncada with a pitch in the fourth inning at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California on April 6, 2026. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Imagn Images)
Sale’s frustrations only increased as the round lengthened. Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe drew a walk past Candelario, forcing in a run to give the Angels a 2-1 lead.
The Angels’ rally continued two batters later when Sale hit designated hitter Yoan Moncada with a pitch to force another run, making the score 3-1. After drilling Moncada, Sale bent down, placed his hands on his knees, before walking behind the pitcher’s mound to pick up the rosin bag, then pushing it into the ground.
The nine-time All-Star pitcher’s fourth-inning nightmare continued when he induced a weak ground ball from center fielder Bryce Teodosio, but it was placed perfectly between shortstop Mauricio Dubon and third baseman Austin Riley.
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Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale throws during the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, California on April 6, 2026. (Caroline Brehman/AP Photo)
Dubon did well diving to keep the ball in the infield, but another run scored, giving the Angels a 4-1 lead.
Sale escaped the fourth inning without further damage, but allowed a two-run homer to Jo Adell in the fifth inning, giving the Angels a 6-1 lead.
The two-time Cy Young winner was then removed from the game. Sale pitched four innings, allowing six runs on five hits, two walks and seven strikeouts.
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Atlanta Braves starter Chris Sale reacts after hitting Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Yoan Moncada with a pitch during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, California, April 6, 2026. (Caroline Brehman/AP Photo)
Sale came into the game with a good record against the Angels. In 11 games, he was 8-0 with a 1.24 ERA, but had no such success on Monday.
In three starts this season, Sale is 2-1 with a 3.94 ERA in 16 innings pitched.
The Braves (6-5) will look to bounce back when they face the Angels (6-5) in Game 2 of their three-game series on Tuesday at 9:38 p.m. ET.
