Keuchel beats Cubs for first win with Braves

[June 27, 2019]    Nick Markakis hit a three-run homer, Brian McCann had a solo shot, and the Atlanta Braves held on for a 5-3 win over the host Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night.

Cubs starting pitcher Yu Darvish (11) delivers against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

Dallas Keuchel (1-1) earned his first win since signing a free agent deal with the Braves earlier this month. He allowed three runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings while walking three and striking out two.

Willson Contreras went 2-for-3 with a triple and a homer to lead the Cubs. Kris Bryant also homered for Chicago, which lost its second straight game.

Cubs starter Yu Darvish (2-4) gave up five runs on five hits in five innings. He walked two and struck out eight.

The defeat snapped a streak of 10 straight no-decisions for Darvish, which is a franchise record. It was his first loss since April 20 and his first decision since April 27.

The Braves grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first thanks to aggressive running. Ronald Acuna Jr. drew a leadoff walk, stole second base, advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Contreras and scored on a wild pitch by Darvish.

A solo shot by McCann made it 2-0 in the second. It was his eighth homer of the season and his fifth in June.

Atlanta increased its lead to 5-0 in the third when Markakis hit a three-run blast to center field. His seventh homer of the season also drove in Freddie Freeman, who had doubled to left field, and Josh Donaldson, who had walked.

Umpires stopped play with one out in the top of the fourth because of inclement weather. When play resumed 48 minutes later, the Cubs started clawing back.

Contreras started the comeback bid with a solo home run, his 17th, in the bottom of the fourth.

In the fifth, Bryant cut the deficit to 5-2 with a home run that traveled an estimated 429 feet to left-center field. It was his 16th of the year.

Contreras struck again in the sixth to help the Cubs pull within 5-3. He belted his first triple of the season to deep right field and scored moments later on a groundout by Jason Heyward.

Four Atlanta relievers blanked the Cubs over the final 3 1/3 innings. A.J. Minter got the last four outs for his fourth save.

--Field Level Media

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