Takeaways as Atlanta Braves get back on track with 3-2 win over Cubs
By Steven Teal
After suffering a tough loss on Monday evening, the Atlanta Braves bounced back Tuesday night with a close win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Atlanta Braves fans were treated to a good game on Tuesday night between two playoff hopefuls. The fans received a nice outing from starter Max Fried after watching Julio Teheran struggle during Monday’s game.
The Braves offense didn’t have the kind of explosion we’ve grown accustomed to in the past few weeks (they were held to 3 runs on 3 hits) but they had some clutch hits in the right spots.
Atlanta was able to take those 3 runs scored during Tuesday’s contest and hold on to beat a much improved Cubs team.
Chicago’s starter, Adbert Alzolay, held the Braves to just 1 earned run on 1 hit through 4.2 innings (that run coming via a Ronald Acuna Jr. homer on the first pitch).
Max Fried had a much better start Tuesday night and the bullpen was excellent again. The pitching staff combined for 13 strikeouts and allowed just 4 hits as the Braves beat the Cubs 3-2.
Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies accounted for every run that was scored by the Atlanta Braves offense. Acuna absolutely obliterated the first pitch he saw from Alzolay and almost hit it out of the park.
Tonight marked the seventh time that @ronaldacunajr24 and @ozzie have homered in the same game. No set of teammates aged 22 or younger in major league history has homered in the same game more times than Acuña Jr. and Albies.#ChopOn pic.twitter.com/015j3xeTe7
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 26, 2019
Albies hit a clutch two-run homer in the top of the 7th inning to give the Braves the lead. The bullpen took it from there as Anthony Swarzak worked out of trouble in the 8th inning with two runners on base and no outs when he entered the game.
Acuna and Albies have now homered in the same game seven times. This duo will continue doing this for many years to come. I just have a feeling you should get used to it.
Swarzak would induce a double play off the bat of Kris Bryant before striking out Anthony Rizzo to end the Cubs threat in the 8th.
And wouldn’t you know it, Luke Jackson came in to save the game for Atlanta. Jackson would get the save as he had a 1-2-3 ninth inning with 2 strikeouts.
Here are a couple of takeaways from Tuesday’s win at the friendly confines.