Short drives as Braves lead Cubs 2-0 despite another strong start from Imanaga originally appeared in NBC Sports Chicago
ATLANTA (AP) — Zack Short made the most of his first start with Atlanta by breaking a scoreless tie with a double in the sixth and the Braves spoiled another strong start from Chicago rookie Shota Imanaga to beat the Cubs 2-0 on Monday night.
Short, who filled in at third base while Austin Riley was held tight on the left side, lined a pitch from right-hander Hayden Wesneski (2-2) into the right field corner to hit Travis d’Arnaud, who doubled with two outs.
Ronald Acuña Jr. followed with a single to left field to drive Short to a 2-0 lead.
Imanaga pitched five scoreless innings, extending his team record to eight straight starts to start his career without allowing more than two runs. Imanaga stranded two base runners in the second and third innings and left the bases loaded in the fourth.
Imanaga had eight strikeouts and lowered his majors-leading ERA to 0.96 despite giving up seven hits with three walks.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell was ejected in the fourth inning shortly after first base umpire Junior Valentine ruled that Acuña had successfully checked his swing with two outs and the bases loaded. After a delay when Counsell came out of the dugout to argue with Valentine, Imanaga escaped the block on Acuña’s ball to right field.
It was Counsell’s 29th ejection of his career and his first with the Cubs.
Braves right-hander Reynaldo López paced Imanaga, pitching five scoreless innings and giving up two hits and two walks.
Left-hander Ray Kerr (1-0) recorded three strikeouts in two perfect innings. AJ Minter pitched the ninth, stranding two baserunners, to earn his first save in four chances, a day after a blown save in a 4-3 loss at the New York Mets.
Acuña, who was picked off at first base twice in Sunday’s loss to the Mets, was picked off by Imanaga after a walk in the first inning. Imanaga also pinned Ozzie Albies after Albies scored in the fifth.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cubs: RHP Adbert Alzolay was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right forearm strain. RHP José Cuas was recalled from Triple-A Iowa. Alzolay is 1-4 with a 4.67 ERA and has four saves in nine opportunities. … OF David Peralta opted out of his minor league contract to become a free agent after hitting .217 in 20 games with Iowa. … Christopher Morel was replaced by pinch runner Pete Crow-Armstrong after drawing a walk in the ninth and then showing discomfort in the batter’s box.
Braves: Manager Brian Snitker said Riley was still sore and undergoing imaging tests to determine the severity of the injury. Short debuted with Atlanta four days after being acquired from the Boston Red Sox.
NEXT
Braves LHP Chris Sale (5-1, 2.95) will face Cubs RHP Jameson Taillon (3-0, 1.13) on Tuesday night. Sale is 2-1 with a 1.23 ERA in five career games, including three starts, in his career against Chicago.
