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Eury Perez hit a 2-run single in the bottom of the eighth to break a 2-2 tie and the bullpen locked down the Cubs' offense as the Braves beat the Cubs in the first game of the series, 4-2.
Teheran's first start of the second half at home was a relatively short one, as he only lasted 4.2 innings while be charged with 2 runs on 5 hits. Ross Detwiler, who had only been acquired hours earlier by the Braves, relieved him in the fifth and got a groundout to end the inning and strand two runners. Detwiler was not the only new(ish) face to play for the Braves in this one as Ryan Kelly would come on to pitch the 6th inning. He did also have an appearance at the end of June, but this one would go signficantly better as he pitched around a single to get a scoreless inning with a little help from a nice double play started by Jace Peterson.
Scooping, spinning, tagging, and jumping = Double play. http://t.co/ho2Lc5JpLi pic.twitter.com/tw3124R5nP
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 18, 2015
The Braves started the scoring in the bottom of the first as Nick Markakis scored on a Kelly Johnson single after stealing second and advancing to third on newly recalled Kyle Schwarber's throwing error. Schwarber's start was a mixed bag for the Cubs as he was a real force at the plate with 3 hits, but he also had the aforementioned throwing error and a catcher's interference called against him.
The Cubs would answer in top of the third with a 2-run single from Jorge Soler, although the Braves did catch Soler at second trying to take the extra base.
The Cubs' lead would not last, however, as the Braves would tie the game in the bottom half of the inning at 2-2 on an RBI double from Nick Markakis.
The Braves had a great scoring opportunity in the bottom of the 6th, but Eury Perez left the bases loaded with Uribe, Pierzynski, and Simmons with a ground out to end the inning. However, Eury would not fail in his second chance with the bases loaded as his 2-out, 2 run single would put the Braves ahead 4-2 in the bottom of the eighth. Jim Johnson promptly came on in the ninth and got his 6th save of the season.
Source: FanGraphs