ATLANTA (AP) — Grant Holmes combined with three relievers on a one-hitter, Austin Riley and Mike Yastrzemski homered and the Atlanta Braves beat the Chicago Cubs 5-2 on Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game set between the National League’s top teams.
Didier Fuentes (2-0) worked three scoreless innings in relief of Holmes, who had not pitched since May 1. Atlanta’s starter worked four innings, allowing a solo homer to Alex Bregman and an RBI grounder by Moisés Ballesteros. He walked four and struck out five while throwing 78 pitches.
Dylan Lee pitched a perfect eighth and Raisel Iglesias went 1-2-3 in the ninth for his seventh save. Iglesias has not allowed a run over 11 2/3 innings this season.
Yastrzemski was 2 for 2 with three RBIs, including his two-run homer in the fifth inning that landed in front of the Chop House restaurant in right field. Earlier in the inning, Riley hit a solo shot 409 feet to left field that tied it at 2-all.
Riley was also robbed of extra bases in the second inning on a leaping catch at the wall by center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. Dominic Smith went 4 for 4 and scored twice as the Braves improved to a major league-best 29-13.