Sale, Ozuna lead Braves past Guardians 6

ATLANTA (AP) — Chris Sale shook off another first-inning homer and Marcell Ozuna kept up his torrid start with two more RBIs, leading the Atlanta Braves past the Cleveland Guardians 6-2 Friday night in the opener of a series matching MLB’s two best teams.

The reigning NL East champion Braves won for the 10th time in 11 games to improve to 18-6, pushing them a game ahead of the AL-leading Guardians (18-8).

Sale (3-1) surrendered a homer to the very first hitter, Steven Kwan, whose 389-foot shot down the right-field line bounced around in the Chop House restaurant. Braves right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. barely moved as Kwan circled the bases with the third leadoff homer of his career.

Sale has give up four homers this season — all in the first inning. It was the second straight start that the leadoff hitter went deep against him.

Otherwise, the 35-year-old left-hander has been stellar, further distancing himself from all the injuries that plagued him the past four seasons with the Boston Red Sox. It was the first time since June 19-30, 2018, that he’s gone at least seven innings in three straight starts.