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Generally, when players are annoyed with themselves, they take their frustrations out on something else. Not Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale.
During the fourth inning of the Braves’ 6-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels Monday night at Angel Stadium, Sale knocked the baseball off his head in anger.
Sale, 37, threw a slider well outside the strike zone to Angels first baseman Jeimer Candelario to leave the bases loaded with no outs while the game was tied 1-1. Braves catcher Drake Baldwin threw the ball back to Sale, who reached with his bare hand instead of his glove, dropped the ball, picked it up and hit him in the 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 grew as the innings wore on. Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe worked one batter 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 drive in another run, making it 3-1. After drilling Moncada, Sale bent over and put his hands on his knees before going behind the pitcher’s mound to pick up the rosin bag, then spike 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 perfectly placed between shortstop Mauricio Dubon and third baseman Austin Riley.
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Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale pitches during the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., on April 6, 2026. (Caroline Brehman/AP Photo)
Dubon made good by 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 injury, but allowed a two-run home run in the fifth to Jo Adell, giving the Angels a 6-1 lead.
The two-time Cy Young winner was ejected from the game afterward. Sale pitched four innings, allowing six runs on five hits, two walks and striking out seven.
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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 entered the game with a good track record against the Angels. In 11 games, he had an 8-0 record with a 1.24 ERA, but had no such success Monday.
In three starts this season, Sale is 2-1 with a 3.94 ERA in 16 innings.
The Braves (6-5) will look to bounce back when they play the Angels (6-5) in the second game of their three-game series on Tuesday at 9:38 PM ET.
