Matt Olson blasted a three-run homer to support another strong effort by Chris Sale and lead the Atlanta Braves to a 7-0 win over the visiting Chicago Cubs on Tuesday.
Olson was 2-for-3 with a walk and four RBIs. He knocked in a run with a first-inning double and delivered a 432-foot home run to center field to complete a six-run, fourth-inning rally.
Sale (6-1), in his first appearance against the Cubs since 2016, pitched seven shutout innings — extending his scoreless streak to 13 innings — and allowed two hits with nine strikeouts and no walks. He won his fifth consecutive start.
Aaron Bummer and Jackson Stephens each threw one inning to finish the game and hand Chicago its second straight shutout loss to open the three-game series.
The Braves won for the sixth time in seven games. Chicago fell for the 13th time in its past 15 games in Atlanta.
The losing pitcher was Jameson Taillon (3-1), who worked four innings and allowed seven runs, two earned, on seven hits and three walks with two strikeouts. He entered the game having allowed one earned run or none in his each of his four starts this year.
The Braves scored a run in the first inning when Ozzie Albies and Marcell Ozuna singled before Olson’s double to center field knocked in Albies.
Atlanta broke the game open in the fourth inning with a six-run outburst.
Michael Harris II led off with a home run to center field, his first long ball since April 19 and fourth of the season.
Orlando Arcia reached on Taillon’s fielding error and Jarred Kelenic singled the runner to second. Zack Short walked before Arcia scored on a wild pitch. Albies walked to reload the bases, and Ozuna hit a sacrifice fly to left field, barely missing a grand slam, for his major-league-leading 41st RBI.
Olson followed with his fifth homer to give Atlanta a 7-0 lead.
The Cubs made a lineup change about 10 minutes before gametime. Miles Mastrobuoni replaced shortstop Nico Hoerner, who was scratched because of left hamstring tightness.
Atlanta’s Reynaldo Lopez and three relievers combined on a five-hitter in a 2-0 win over the Cubs on Monday.
–Field Level Media
