The Atlanta Braves had plenty of chances but were unable to come up with a big hit in a 4-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs Tuesday night.
The Braves’ offense got things started in the second. Travis d’Arnaud reached on an error by Assad. Michael Harris struck out for the first out, but Orlando Arcia followed with his fifth home run of the season to give Atlanta a 2-0 lead.
It was the full gambit for Charlie Morton who struck out the side in the first, but also issued two walks. It was more of the same in the second as Morton struck out Nico Hoerner but then hit Michael Busch and allowed an infield single to Dansby Swanson. He then walked Miguel Amaya on four pitches to load the bases which prompted a visit by Rick Kranitz.
Tauchman followed with a single to right that scored Busch to cut the lead to 2-1. Morton came back and struck out Suzuki swinging on a changeup in. That brought Cody Bellinger to the plate and a passed ball by d’Arnaud allowed Swanson to score to tie the game. Bellinger popped out to Zack Short in foul territory to the end the inning on Morton’s 56th pitch of the game.
Morton needed a quick inning and got it in the third retiring the side in order on just seven pitches. The Braves didn’t waste any time getting him the lead back as Michael Harris sent one into the left field seats to make it 3-2.
Morton started the fourth with a strikeout of Busch but then allowed a double to Swanson. A four-pitch walk to Amaya put runners at first and second. Tauchman then put a charge in one to center that Harris ran down and speared with a leap for the second out. Morton then got Suzuki to ground out to end the threat.
The Braves threatened to add on in the fifth. Marcell Ozuna walked to start the inning. Assad then struck out Matt Olson but then issued another free pass to Travis d’Arnaud. Harris grounded into a force out to put runners at the corners. Craig Counsell then went to his bullpen for Tyson Miller. Harris stole second but Arcia struck out swinging to leave the runners stranded.
Morton struck out Bellinger to start the fifth and then got Morel to foul out. Ian Happ then hooked a fastball into the right field corner for a double, but Morton struck out Hoerner to end the inning.
Morton would give way to Daysbel Hernandez to start the sixth. Morton was a little erratic but weathered the storm and gave the Braves a chance to win. He allowed four hits and two runs, although only one was earned. He struck out eight and walked four while throwing 94 pitches.
Hernandez got Busch to pop up to start the inning but the ball popped out of Short’s glove for a two-base error. Swanson grounded out for the first out, but Amaya followed with a single to put runners at the corners. Tauchman made that error hurt with a single to right that scored Busch to tie the game. Suzuki then lifted a fly ball to shallow center that Harris made a fine running catch on for the second out. Hernandez then finished the inning off with a strikeout of Bellinger.
Atlanta had a chance to retake the lead in the seventh but were unable to get a big hit. Ozzie Albies was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Ozuna followed with a single to left to extend his hitting streak to 14-straight games. Miller was replaced by Mark Leiter Jr. who struck out Olson, d’Arnaud and Harris to leave the runners stranded.
Jesse Chavez entered in the seventh and promptly walked Morel to start the inning. He dodged a bullet though as Happ lined out sharply to Olson at first who then tagged Morel for a double play. Chavez followed with a strikeout of Hoerner to send the game to the eighth.
A.J. Minter entered in the eighth and retired the side in order. Aaron Bummer worked a scoreless ninth to send the game to extra innings.
Atlanta’s offensive struggles continued in the 10th against Cubs reliever Luke Little. With Ozuna at second, Olson tapped back to the mound for the first out. d’Arnaud then sent a grounder to Swanson. Ozuna broke for third on contact and was thrown out easily for the second out. Harris grounded to first to end the inning.
Bummer stayed in for the 10th and the Braves elected to intentionally walk Morel to start the inning. Happ then sent a slow roller to Arcia who threw to second for the first out. With runners at the corners and the infield in, Hoerner sent a high chopper on the infield to score Bellinger to end the game.
It is another frustrating loss for the Braves who had plenty of chances. Chicago scored four runs and only one was earned. The dropped pop up in the sixth loomed large. The offense homered twice but were 0-for-14 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base.
The Braves have now lost five of six and are 27-18 for the season. The series will continue Tuesday with Max Fried matching up against Justin Steele.
