Atlanta Braves vs Chicago Cubs Box Score on Sep 01, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Sep 1, 2017

CHICAGO -- John Lackey threw seven shutout innings and retired the final 16 hitters he faced as the Chicago Cubs won their fifth straight game with a 2-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Friday.

Lackey (11-10) surrendered just three hits, and didn't allow a baserunner after giving up back-to-back singles with two outs in the second inning. Lackey struck out five and didn't allow a walk to help extend the Cubs' winning streak.

The Cubs tallied single runs in the third and fourth innings to stake Lackey to a lead. Kyle Schwarber beat out an infield single with two outs in the third inning, which allowed Javier Baez to score from second base as he slid around the tag of catcher Kurt Suzuki to give Chicago a 1-0 lead.

Ian Happ's RBI single in the fourth extended the Cubs' lead to 2-0. Happ's hit scored Anthony Rizzo, who doubled to lead off the inning. The Cubs loaded the bases with one out in the eighth inning after three consecutive walks, but reliever Rex Brothers struck out Alex Avila and Jason Heyward to end the threat.

Lackey cruised after the second inning and retired the Braves in order over his final five innings. Atlanta was unable to provide any run support for Mike Foltynewicz (10-11), who took the loss after he gave up five hits and allowed the two runs over 6 1/3 innings while walking three and striking out two.

After being blanked by Lackey, the Braves registered their first hit since the second inning when Rio Ruiz led off the eighth inning with a double off of reliever Pedro Strop. Ruiz, who was called up from Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday, went 2-for-3 for the Braves.

But Strop got Dansby Swanson and pinch hitter Lane Adams to ground out before Brian Duensing closed out the inning.

Wade Davis closed out the victory with his 28th save.

NOTES: Braves RHP Jason Motte was placed on the 10-day disabled list Friday with a strained right oblique. ...Atlanta RHP Max Fried will make his major league debut Sunday against the Cubs in the place of RHP R.A. Dickey, whom the Braves didn't want to pitch on short rest after throwing 121 pitches in his last start. ...Cubs RHP Justin Grimm was activated off the 10-day disabled list on Friday after he had been sidelined with an infection in his right index finger. Grimm returns after making two rehab appearances at Triple-A Iowa. ...C Victor Caratini was recalled from Triple-A Iowa and begins his third major-league stint with the Cubs. ...The Cubs selected the contracts of INF Mike Freeman and RHP Dillon Maples from Triple-A Iowa before Friday's game. To make room, RHP Seth Frankoff and RHP Jose Rosario were designated for assignment.