Starting Lineups:

Chicago Cubs (27-14):

1) Nico Hoerner (R) 2B

2) Michael Conforto (L) DH

3) Alex Bregman (R) 3B

4) Ian Happ (S) LF

5) Seiya Suzuki (R) RF

6) Michael Busch (L) 1B

7) Moisés Ballesteros (L) C

8) Dansby Swanson (R) SS

9) Pete Crow-Armstrong (L) CF

Starting Pitcher: RHP Colin Rea (4-1, 3.79 ERA)

Atlanta Braves (28-13):

1) Drake Baldwin (L) C

2) Ozzie Albies (S) 2B

3) Matt Olson (L) 1B

4) Michael Harris II (L) CF

5) Mauricio Dubón (R) LF

6) Austin Riley (R) 3B

7) Dominic Smith (L) DH

8) Ha-Seong Kim (R) SS

9) Mike Yastrzemski (L) RF

Starting Pitcher: RHP Grant Holmes (2-1, 4.35 ERA)

Truist Park, Atlanta, GA — In the series opener between the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta Braves — two of the best teams in baseball — the Braves took down the Cubs 5-2 in part due to the long ball.

The Braves would open the scoring in the bottom of the third inning.

After Dominic Smith singled and advanced to second on a fielder’s choice, Mike Yastrezemski would plate him with an RBI single to left field, putting the Braves up 1-0.

The Cubs would respond in the top of the fourth inning thanks to a deep fly and free passes.

Alex Bregman found a pitch he liked and parked it over into the left field bullpen to tie the game at 1 apiece. Bregman hit his fourth homer of the year, his first since April 24th.

After three straight walks worked by Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, and Michael Busch, Moises Ballesteros would ground into an RBI fielder’s choice to put the Cubs up 2-1.

The Braves would tie the game in the bottom of the fifth and later take the lead.

On the first pitch he saw, Austin Riley launched a home run to deep left-center field to tie the game at 2 apiece.

Michael Harris II would keep the inning going with a single to left field, and one batter later, Yastrezemski would club his first home run of the year to deep right field to put the Braves ahead 4-2.

Drake Baldwin kept the Braves strong inning moving along with a one-out double. Ozzie Albies drew a walk, which ultimately chased Cub’s starter Colin Rea out of the game. Rea pitched four and a third innings, giving up 5 runs, 3 of which came from home runs.

Matt Olson would plate another run for the Braves with an RBI single scorched to first base to put Atlanta up 5-2.

Pete Crow-Armstrong photo courtesy of the Chicago Sun-Times

The Good: The Braves capitalized on the Cubs’ pitching mistakes and left the yard twice for a total of 3 runs. Additionally, Brave’s DH Dominic Smith had a great day at the plate, going 4-4 and scoring two runs.

The Bad/The Ugly: Cub’s starter Colin Rea didn’t have his best outing — he tossed four and a third innings, giving up 5 runs. He was tagged twice for two homers, which accounted for 3 of the Braves’ five runs. It’s also worth mentioning that the Cubs were held to just one hit for the entire game. The Cubs couldn’t figure out the Braves’ bullpen.

-Matt Koper

Founder of Koper’s Korner