Atlanta Braves shut out Chicago Cubs 3-0, allowing just four hits

Jarred Kelenic hit a solo homer, rookie AJ ​​Smith-Shawver worked 4 1/3 innings with three hits in his first start of the season and the Atlanta Braves topped the Chicago Cubs 3-0 on Thursday .

The Braves have won two straight and three of four after a four-game skid.

Smith-Shawver, one of Atlanta’s best pitchers, combined with five relievers for a four-hitter. The 21-year-old right-hander, recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett for the game, struck out four and walked two.

Dylan Lee (1-1) followed Smith-Shawver and struck out a one-run inning for the win. Raisel Iglesias pitched a perfect ninth for his 12th save.

Ozzie Albies and Marcell Ozuna drove in runs in the eighth against Kyle Hendricks, who made only the second regular-season relief appearance of his 11-season career. Albies singled and Ozuna had a sack on the 34-year-old right-hander who was moved to the bullpen this week after going 0-4 with a 10.57 ERA in seven starts.

Ozuna went 0 for 2 with a walk and his 15-game hitting streak was snapped.

Ben Brown pitched four scoreless innings with one hit in his fifth start and 12th bullpen day appearance for the Cubs. The 6-foot-6 right-hander struck out six and walked two.

Hayden Wesneski (2-3), the first of Chicago’s three relievers, allowed Kelenic’s third home run of the season and took the loss.

Smith-Shawver was relieved by Lee after 87 pitches. The rookie made five starts in three call-ups last season. The Braves selected right-hander Daysbel Hernandez on Wednesday to make room for him on the roster.

Kelenic went deep to lead off the fifth and put Atlanta up 1-0. Kelenic turned on Wesneski’s 3-1 pitch and his third homer reached the right-field bleachers despite a solid win off Lake Michigan.

Hendricks allowed two runs on two hits and a walk in the eighth to give the Braves a 3-0 lead. He gave up two more singles in a scoreless ninth.

The wind and clear, cloudless skies at Wrigley challenged the Braves’ defensive players.

Second baseman Ozzie Albies lost Seiya Suzukzi’s pop at third and he fell for a single. All three outfielders struggled to track the ball, leading to several awkward catches.

FOLLOWING

Braves: No starters have been named for Friday night’s series opener in Pittsburgh. LHP Baily Falter (2-2, 3.53 ERA) pitches for the Pirates.

Cubs: LHP Shota Imanaga (5-0, 0.84 ERA) faces RHP Miles Mikolas (3-5, 5.77) in St. Louis on Friday night. Imanaga’s ERA is the lowest in a pitcher’s first nine starts since baseball began tracking earned run average in 1913.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb