Zack Short drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth for his first RBI of the season and four pitchers combined on a shutout as the Atlanta Braves beat the visiting Chicago Cubs 2-0 on Monday in the opener of a three-game series.
The Braves scored both of their runs with two outs in the sixth off reliever Hayden Wesneski (2-2). Travis d’Arnaud and Short delivered back-to-back doubles before Ronald Acuna Jr. brought Short home with a single.
Short was acquired from Boston on Thursday and was playing in only his second game with the team because of an upper-body injury to starting third baseman Austin Riley.
The Cubs threatened in the ninth inning against reliever A.J. Minter. Cody Bellinger singled and advanced to second when Christopher Morel worked a 12-pitch walk. But Ian Happ hit into a double play, and Nico Hoerner flied out to end the game.
Atlanta’s bullpen got two scoreless innings from Ray Kerr (1-0) and one apiece from Dylan Lee and Minter, who earned his first save of the season.
Braves starter Reynaldo Lopez threw five scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out four, lowering his ERA to 1.34. His pitch count was elevated after walking two batters in the fifth inning, one on a pitch-clock violation, and he left after throwing 71 pitches.
Chicago’s Shota Imanaga went five scoreless innings, throwing 98 pitches, and he allowed seven hits and three walks to go along with eight strikeouts. He lowered his ERA to 0.96 and picked off two baserunners to short-circuit Atlanta’s opportunities.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell was ejected by first base umpire Junior Valentine in the fourth inning after arguing that Acuna had failed to check his swing. It was inconsequential, as Acuna flied out to right field to end the inning.
Chicago didn’t get a hit after Michael Busch’s two-out single in the second inning until Miguel Amaya and Mike Tauchman recorded back-to-back singles with two outs in the eighth. However, Lee escaped further trouble by retiring Seiya Suzuki on a flyout to center field.
–Field Level Media
