The Chicago Cubs<\/a> lose again and extend their losing streak to three games after losing 4-1 to the Atlanta Braves<\/a>. The Braves secured the win behind a strong pitching performance and two home runs.<\/p>\n On Monday, the Braves defeated the Cubs 4-1 in Atlanta, thanks to a rapid three-run first inning led by Ozzie Albies<\/a>, Drake Baldwin<\/a>, and Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr<\/a>. Chicago scored their sole run in the seventh on a Matt Shaw<\/a> sacrifice fly, but Matt Olson<\/a> added insurance with a solo home run in the eighth. Braves starter Bryce Elder<\/a> pitched well, allowing only one run in 6 1\/3 innings with six strikeouts. Raisel Iglesias<\/a> earned his 25th save. The win was manager Brian Snitker<\/a>‘s 800th career victory, while the Cubs lost their third consecutive game despite still holding the top Wild Card spot in the NL.<\/p>\n After giving up three early runs, Shota Imanaga<\/a> settled down and delivered a quality start for the Cubs. He notched four strikeouts and prevented further Atlanta damage. Over his last five innings, he held the Braves scoreless, at least giving the Cubs a chance to hang around. Limiting a sometimes high-flying Braves offense to just three runs across six innings is respectable, especially on a night where Chicago’s offense wasn’t producing.<\/p>\n On a night where the Cubs only mustered five hits,\u00a0Nico Hoerner<\/a>\u00a0recorded the only extra-base hit of the night with a double in the 7th. He would later come around to score the Cubs’ only run of the night on a Matt Shaw sacrifice fly. While it didn’t spark a bigger rally, it showcased Hoerner’s value as a table-setter and his ability to put pressure on the opposition late in the game.<\/p>\n Continuing on their trend as of late, the Cubs only managed one run and failed to capitalize on scoring chances. They went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and left six total men on base. This includes a missed opportunity in the 6th inning where the Cubs couldn’t score a single run with the bases loaded.<\/p>\n The game was opened up quickly in the first inning when the Braves struck for three runs on the board, all with two outs. A home run by Ozzie Albies and back-to-back hits from Ha-Seong Kim<\/a> and Drake Baldwin put immense pressure on Shota Imanaga and the Cubs’ defense. This forced the Cubs to play catch-up all night, which proved to be difficult given their offensive struggles.<\/p>\n Atlanta put up three runs in the first inning on the backs of Ozzie Albies, Drake Baldwin, and Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr– all three recording a first-inning RBI. Matt Olson gave the Braves some insurance with a 417-foot home run in the 8th. Their first-inning burst gave them control of the game right away.<\/p>\n Bryce Elder delivered a strong 6 1\/3 inning performance, only allowing one run. He recorded six strikeouts, and the bullpen backed him up with clean relief, capped by Raisel Iglesias’ 25th save. Their combined efforts kept the momentum on the Braves’ side all night.<\/p>\n After their three-run first inning, Atlanta’s offense went quiet for several frames, leaving runners stranded and never allowing them to completely put the game away. The Cubs remained within striking distance until the later innings.<\/p>\n Although he did break an 0-for-25 stretch with his RBI single in the first, Acu\u00f1a finished 1-for-5 on the night. His struggles at the plate remain a concern for the Braves as they look ahead to next season.<\/p>\n The Braves notch an impressive defensive win against a top National League team, while the Cubs look to break their losing streak and fire up the bats as they continue to chase the Milwaukee Brewers<\/a> for the NL Central top spot. Chicago still holds the top wild card spot over the San Diego Padres<\/a> by two games.<\/p>\n The teams will play again in Atlanta on Tuesday, September 9 at 7:15 EDT in the second game of their three-game series. The Cubs will look to even the series Tuesday night against the Braves. The Cubs will opt for right-hander Cade Horton<\/a>, and the Braves will toss Spencer Strider<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Main Photo:Braves \u2013 Cubs Game Summary<\/h3>\n
What Went Right for the Cubs<\/h3>\n
Shota Imanaga’s Resilience<\/h4>\n
Nico Hoerner’s Offense<\/h4>\n
What Went Wrong for the Cubs<\/h3>\n
Offensive Struggles in Clutch Moments<\/h4>\n
Early Pitching Lapse<\/h4>\n
What Went Right for the Braves<\/h3>\n
Fast and Efficient Start at the Plate<\/h4>\n
Strong Pitching Performances<\/h4>\n
What Went Wrong for the Braves<\/h3>\n
Missed Opportunities<\/h4>\n
Acu\u00f1a Jr.\u2019s Slump<\/h4>\n
Quick Hits<\/h3>\n
Looking Ahead<\/h3>\n
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>