Friday night at Fenway Park has become talk of the baseball town. The home crowd came ready to cheer a familiar script, but as the Boston Red Sox kicked off their three-game series against the Atlanta Braves, the night quickly flipped the playbook. In a tight game, the Braves pulled off a 4-2 win, pushing their record above .500 for the first time this season. But beyond the numbers, the real story was the man on the mound, a former Red Sox ace who returned to Beantown for the first time since parting ways two winters ago.
Yes, you guessed it—Chris Sale. In December 2023, the Red Sox traded their longtime ace to Atlanta for a younger prospect, Vaughn Grissom, ending a seven-year chapter in Boston. The Braves didn’t waste time locking Sale with a two-year, $38 million deal. On Friday night, he returned to Fenway Park, the place he once called home, and this time, he was wearing enemy colors. But if Boston fans hoped for a warm homecoming, Sale had other plans. He stole the show with eight strikeouts, walking two, and allowing just five hits and one run over the seven innings he pitched. It was a sweet revenge, and he opened up about what this return truly meant for him.
“I love it here. There’s no secret there,” Sale said after the win. “I’ve always enjoyed, even when I was with Chicago, coming here and playing. I spent seven years there and had some really good moments, and I appreciate this place for what it is.” For seven whole seasons, Boston was home for him. And even though you know that trades are just business, a goodbye like this one must have stung for him. During his time, he contributed a lot to the Red Sox’s journey.
Chris Sale on his return to Fenway Park: “I love it here. There’s no secret there. I’ve always enjoyed, even when I was with Chicago, coming here and playing. I spent seven years and had some really good moments and I appreciate this place for what it is.”
Via: @Sean_McAdam pic.twitter.com/X0xEit1rKr
— Boston Strong (@BostonStrong_34) May 17, 2025
Sale landed in Boston in 2016, but he truly shone—the same year, when the beloved Big Papi, David Ortiz, retired. Sale truly shone during Boston’s rebuilding phase, following their World Series championship of 2018. He set milestones through his journey in the Red Sox Uniform. However, his later years with the team saw substantial inconsistencies and recurring injuries that somewhat affected his overall performance. And gradually, he started losing his initial glory. Ultimately, Boston decided to let him go.
Perhaps, that’s what he needed. A push. Since joining the Braves, Sale has transformed, and coming off a game-changing 2024 season. With the standards already set high, this season, it seems like he’s keeping it high up.
Since the trade, he has faced the Red Sox only once before. But that wasn’t at Fenway Park; it was in Atlanta in May 2024. And he was brilliant then too, with 10 strikeouts and six scoreless innings. And this time, he rose to the pressure of facing the former team on their home ground and delivered an even better performance.
However, not all his days in Atlanta have been rainbows and sunshine. But when it truly mattered, he didn’t disappoint. Thus, Friday’s game serves as a reminder of his prowess. What’s more interesting is that this time, he even outperformed Garrett Crochet.
Garrett Crochet vs Chris Sale: An epic showdown
Fenway Park witnessed a fiery pitching duel between Crochet and Sale on Friday. And fans expected nothing less, especially when two of the best compete against each other. Both starters were in their best form, each pitching seven innings. The only difference in their performance was the one extra home run Crochet gave up.
Sale has often been compared to the Red Sox’s star for their similarities in performance. But they haven’t had enough chances to play against each other. And that’s where the actual thrill begins. The last time they clashed was during the All-Star game in 2024. Interestingly, both had started their career with the Chicago White Sox, too. Even though one outshone the other by an inch on Friday, it doesn’t make the 25-year-old Crochet’s performance any less of the 2024 Cy Young winner veteran. But this victory truly made a difference for the Braves.
For Atlanta, this win marks a turning point in their journey this season. They had a very gloomy start this season with losing the first seven games. They managed to make it 5-13, and after this win, they are now standing at 23-22. It is a great comeback from the bottom. But for Boston, this marks their fourth straight loss. If the Braves can focus more on winning, they still stand a chance. They are still trailing by five games in the NL East. There are many reasons to believe that the Braves can still turn the tables by climbing higher. And now, after the epic revenge, Sale is definitely one of them.
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