Albies blast helps Braves slip by Cubs

[June 26, 2019]  Ozzie Albies hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the seventh inning, Max Fried struck out eight over six innings, and the Atlanta Braves held on for a 3-2 win over the host Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night.

Ronald Acuna Jr. also homered for Atlanta, which won despite tallying only three hits. The Braves pulled even in the four-game series with one win apiece.

Willson Contreras hit a two-run double for Chicago, which lost for the third time in five games.

Fried (9-3) earned his second straight victory by limiting the Cubs to two runs on two hits and five walks.

Cubs reliever Mike Montgomery (1-2) drew the loss after giving up two runs on two hits in 2 1/3 innings. Montgomery replaced rookie right-hander Adbert Alzolay, who allowed one run on one hit in 4 2/3 innings in the second appearance (first start) of his major league career.

Braves reliever Luke Jackson picked up his 12th save with a scoreless ninth inning. He capped off a strong night for the Atlanta bullpen, which also got one scoreless inning apiece from Sean Newcomb and Anthony Swarzak.

Acuna homered on Alzolay's first pitch of the game to put the Braves on top 1-0. He drilled a 93 mph fastball over the ivy-covered wall in left-center field for his 19th homer, which is second on the team to Freddie Freeman's 21.

The Cubs battled back with two runs in the fourth to take the lead. Contreras ripped a double to left field that scored Anthony Rizzo from second base and Javier Baez from first.

Cubs starting pitcher Adbert Alzolay (73) delivers the ball against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

It was the second straight game in which Contreras stung the Braves, who criticized him one day earlier for instigating a feud with Tyler Flowers. The Monday incident prompted the benches to clear, but no punches were thrown.

Atlanta stayed quiet after Acuna's homer until the seventh. Brian McCann singled with one out, and then Albies pounced on a first-pitch changeup from Montgomery and drove it an estimated 395 feet over the wall in right-center field. It was his 12th homer of the season.

--Field Level Media

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