ATLANTA -- Braves manager Walt Weiss wants his team to be more multidimensional than it has been over the past couple seasons. But as he watched his first game in his new role unfold, Weiss was reminded that power may still be his team’s calling card.
Ozzie Albies, Drake Baldwin and Michael Harris II all homered while helping the Braves claim a 6-0 win over the Royals on Friday night at Truist Park. The trio of homers backed a stellar Chris Sale, whose scoreless outing entertained both an energetic Opening Day crowd and Weiss, who was named Atlanta’s manager in November.
As soon as the Braves posted their lineup Friday afternoon, fans began asking why Albies was batting third. The chirping faded as the second baseman’s first-inning solo homer off Cole Ragans sailed down the left-field line.
The early advantage was enough for Sale, who scattered three hits over six scoreless innings. The advantage widened when Baldwin lined a home run just over the top of the right-field wall in the third inning.
Baldwin won last year’s National League Rookie of the Year Award, and followed that up by producing a Grapefruit League-best 72.5% hard-hit rate during Spring Training. His 110.2 mph line-drive homer was the 20th long ball of his career.
One of the keys to this season will be Harris’ ability to rebound from last year’s inconsistencies. The 25-year-old center fielder’s two-run homer off Ragans in the fourth inning fueled the hope that this will be the year he breaks out and possibly bids for a 30-30 season.