CHICAGO - Kyle Wright plunked four batters but still left with the lead after a last-minute call-up, Will Smith worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Atlanta Braves escaped with a bizarre 5-2 win over the Chicago Cubs on Friday afternoon.
Wright was recalled from the club's alternate training site to replace Drew Smyly, who was scratched and placed on the 10-day injured list with left forearm inflammation Friday morning. Wright hit four batters, including Javier Báez twice, but limited Chicago to two runs and three hits over 4 1/3 innings. He also doubled for the first hit of his MLB career.
"I thought he did a great job," Braves catcher Travis d'Arnaud said. "For the most part, he kept us in the game."
Four Atlanta relievers, including winning pitcher Josh Tomlin (2-0), kept the Cubs scoreless until Smith entered for the ninth. Atlanta's closer walked the bases loaded with two outs before striking out Joc Pederson to cap his third save in three tries this season.
Willson Contreras homered off Wright as the Cubs lost their second straight game and the fifth of their past six. Contreras was one of three players struck by Wright as the Cubs assumed the MLB lead for hit batters this season with 13. Chicago batters were hit a league-most 52 times last season.
Braves manager Brian Snitker wasn't bowled over by Wright's performance, but he was pleased to see the 25-year-old right-hander stay out of deep trouble.
"I loved the way he didn't let the thing get out of hand," Snitker said. "He made big pitches and got big outs when we needed them."
The Braves took the lead for good with a three-run fourth highlighted by Ronald Acuña Jr.'s two-run single. Marcell Ozuna added three hits and an RBI for Atlanta, which has back-to-back wins after a four-game skid.
The first four runs came off Chicago starter Zach Davies (1-2), who pitched for the first time since giving up five earned runs in fewer than two innings in a road loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates last Saturday.
The Cubs began the day hitting an MLB-worst .168 and ended the game stranding a dozen runners.
"We just weren't able to put the runs across again," said bench coach Andy Green, who filled in for the suspended David Ross.
The Chicago manager served a one-game ban handed down a day earlier by Major League Baseball. Ross, game planning coach Mike Borzello and reliever Ryan Tepera were suspended and fined after Tepera threw behind the Milwaukee Brewers' Brandon Woodruff in a win Tuesday.
Tepera, given a three-game punishment, is appealing the ruling and remained on the active roster Friday. His throw came after Contreras was hit by a Brewers pitcher for the third time this season.
Ross said before the game he might watch from a box at the park or enjoy the game and pizza at home with his family. Borzello also sat out Friday.
Atlanta center fielder Ender Inciarte left the game after injuring his left hamstring while running the bases in the fourth, and second baseman Ozzie Albies exited in the top of the ninth after being struck on the right calf by Cubs reliever Justin Steele. Snitker said both players were being evaluated after the game.
The Atlanta manager also said he hopes Smyly will miss only one start. The 31-year-old left-hander has a 5.73 ERA in two starts with no decisions this year. He signed an $11 million one-year deal with Atlanta as a free agent after a strong finish to the 2020 season with the San Francisco Giants.
The Braves also recalled infielder Johan Camargo before the game to fill the open spot created when they optioned left-handed pitcher Tucker Davidson to Gwinnett on Thursday.