FINAL- Braves 3 Cubs 2
WRIGLEY FIELD- Cubs rookie Adbert Alzolay (Al-zo-LIE) was impressive in his first career start but the Cubs took a 3-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves as both teams combined for 7 hits.
Alzolay went 4.2 innings giving up just one hit (a first pitch HR to Ronald Acuna Jr.) and 1 run while walking and striking out 4 on 87 pitches, 52 for strikes. "I felt good on the mound. I was a little tired at the end but I think it was good. I'm feeling really confident," Alzolay said about his performance.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon echoed his sentiments. "Everything was good. I just think he hit a wall at the end. You can see how good he's gonna be. I like the mound demeanor. We just have to get him further along in regards to being stretched out,' said Maddon. Joe also said there's no word if Adbert will make a start next week in Pittsburgh.
Alzolay left in the top of the 5th with the bases loaded and 2 outs but #IceMike (Mike Montgomery) got Dansby Swanson to ground out to David Bote to put the fire out.
#ILLWILL (Wilson Contreras) extended his hit streak to 9 games as he gave the Cubs a 2-1 lead in the bottom of 4. An Ozzie Albies 2-run HR off of #IceMike in the top of 7 put the Braves back in the drivers seat 3-2 and that was all she wrote.
The Cubs threatened in the bottom of the 8th with back-to-back singles from #AlJr (Albert Almora Jr.) and #BamBam (Kyle Schwarber) but #TheNatural (Kris Bryant grounded into a 5-3 double play & #BigFolks (Anthony Rizzo) went down looking to end the inning.
Scoring Summary- Ronald Acuna Jr led off the game with a first pitch HR to get ATL on the board. The Cubs took a 2-1 lead in he bottom of 4 behind a Willson Contreras 2 RBI double. The Braves went up 3-2 in the top of 7 on an Ozzie Albies 2 run HR.
Player(s) of the game- Ozzie Albies aka #TheCubsKiller....he's hitting .483 with 4 HRs & 11 RBI in 15 games versus the Cubs
Play of the game- bottom of 8...runners on 1st & 2nd...Bryant double play & Rizzo strikeout looking to end the inning scoreless
Quote of the game- "It's just one pitch...you gotta keep working. The game continues. If you lose your mind in that situation you won't last a lot of innings." - Alzolay on his focus after the first pitch HR to Acuna Jr.
Next game- vs ATL 6/26
Yu Darvish (2-3 4.75 ERA) v Dallas Keuchel (0-1 5.40 ERA)
*Craig Kimbrel pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning with 2 strikeouts (1 swinging/1 looking) for AAA Iowa last night and may join the team by weeks end. Joe Maddon said they'd talk with him and make a decision.
*Kris Bryant has reached safely in 22 consecutive games
*Willson Contreras extended his hit streak to 9 games