Cubs start strong, hold off Braves for 8-6 win
Dansby Swanson celebrates his two-run home run during the first inning of Saturday’s game.
AP Photos
By Brian Sandalow
For the Sun-Times
The Cubs offense didn’t take long to put Friday’s misery behind them. Then it was on an array of bullpen arms to preserve the lead against one of baseball’s most potent lineups.
They did.
Dansby Swanson and Jeimer Candelario hit first-inning home runs and six Cubs pitchers held the Braves just enough for an 8-6 win Saturday in front of 40,201 at a soggy Wrigley Field. A day after getting mauled 8-0, the Cubs jumped on Atlanta starter Bryce Elder for five first-inning runs and kept pace in the races for the National League Central and an NL wild-card.
“You turn the page on that,” manager David Ross said. “It was funny, one of the coaches said ‘turn the page.’ I was like, I did that in the eighth yesterday. I was on to today, and I think a lot of the guys were too.
“We got beat yesterday and came out today with a fresh mentality,” Ross added. I think that’s the sign of a good team.”
Considering the conditions, the Cubs had to have the right mentality Saturday.
A steady drizzle falling for most of the game would’ve been a challenge for any staff. Going through that against the Braves made it even harder, and doing so on what was effectively a bullpen day just added to the degree of difficulty.
“I felt like today we really fought hard,” Swanson said. “The pitchers did a great job being able to navigate through that lineup. It’s not easy, but it was definitely a good team win for us today.”
Starting in the rotation slot usually reserved for Marcus Stroman, Javier Assad lasted 3 2/3 innings and allowed two runs, including Ozzie Albies’ third-inning solo home run.
The rain did not help Assad’s cause.
“It was a bit uncomfortable,” Assad said through a translator, “but you have to find a way to go out there, execute, go out there and give it your best shot and try to execute each pitch to the best of your ability.”
Michael Fulmer replaced Assad and pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Things got tricky in the sixth, when Daniel Palencia walked the bases loaded with one out. Palencia was lifted for Mark Leiter Jr., who did allow two inherited runners to score, but struck out Austin Riley with the bases loaded to keep the Cubs ahead 7-4.
“They have a great team so you have to stay focused,” Leiter said. “They’re going to keep coming at you so you just have to stay poised and no matter what’s going on, just get the next out.”
Ian Happ, who homered in the seventh, was also encouraged by the offensive production. He said hitters have had good at-bats all year, that they are benefiting from having consistent orders against lefties and righties and Candelario has solidified the lineup against right-handers.
“He’s had unbelievable at-bats since he’s gotten here, especially against right-handed pitching,” Happ said. “Just the thump that he’s added is really nice.”
It was also nice for the Cubs to recover quickly from a difficult start to the series Friday. Max Fried stifled the lineup while the Braves hammered Kyle Hendricks the second time through their order.
While Ross liked the response Saturday, he wouldn’t attach too much more significance to the win. He knew that, win or lose, the Cubs still had 51 games left after the victory.
“I think it was a nice win,” Ross said. “It’s a good team over there. If we didn’t win today it wouldn’t end our season. We’ve got a long way to go.”