Ronald Acuña Jr. left Sunday's game against the Pirates with knee soreness, while Chris Sale pitched seven strong innings to improve to 8-1.
Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. exited Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first inning due to left knee soreness. The reigning NL MVP doubled to lead off the game but then injured his knee on a stolen base attempt.
Acuña remained on the ground for several minutes while being treated before walking off the field under his own power. He later said he would have an MRI on Sunday night and expects to be placed on the 10-day injured list.
"I got scared a lot because I felt the pain in the beginning," Acuña said through a translator. "Hopefully, everything is going to go well."
Jarred Kelenic replaced Acuña in the lineup and went 3 for 4. Acuña, a 26-year-old outfielder, is batting .250 with four home runs and 15 RBIs in 49 games this season.
Chris Sale improved to 8-1 on Sunday by allowing just four hits over seven innings in the Red Sox's 8-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 35-year-old left-hander struck out eight and lowered his ERA to 1.70.
Sale has regained the form that earned him seven straight All-Star selections from 2012-18. He missed most of the past two seasons due to injuries but has been dominant this year.
"Just doing what I need to do," Sale said. "We all have our part on the team. Just posting every fifth day and trying to keep runs off the board... Take every start, you want to win. Had a couple rough ones over the last couple days. You want to end on a good note heading back home."
The Pirates also suffered multiple injuries in the game. Catcher Joey Bart left the game after the first inning with a left thumb injury and was replaced by Yasmani Grandal. Left-hander Martín Pérez, who started the game for Pittsburgh, left in the third inning with a left groin injury.
Pirates manager Derek Shelton said he expects to have more information on Pérez and Bart on Monday.
"Very, very strange," Shelton said of the three injuries in the first three innings. "The Acuña thing, I actually didn't even see it happen. I watched the replay... That was a little concerning for a guy that's as talented (as he is) in our game, the way he went down. Then with Joey and Martín, yeah, I don't think I've ever seen that."
* Matt Olson had three RBIs for the Braves with a home run and a double.
* Travis d'Arnaud and Orlando Arcia also drove in runs for Atlanta.
* Grandal had the only RBI for the Pirates with a single in the second inning.
* The Braves improved to 44-41 with the win, while the Pirates fell to 36-49.
