Matt Olson slammed a three-run homer and brought in four runs, while Chris Sale pitched brilliantly, allowing only two hits in seven innings as the Atlanta Braves blanked the Chicago Cubs 7-0 on Tuesday night, marking their second consecutive shutout in the series.
Michael Harris II also hit a home run for Atlanta, which has won six of its last seven games. The Cubs struggled to generate offense against Sale and relievers Aaron Bummer and Jackson Stephens, managing only three hits. In the first two games of the series, they’ve scored no runs and totaled just eight hits.
Olson admitted he was feeling the pressure coming into the game with a batting average of .209. “I’ve just been grinding a little bit, started getting uptight,” Olson said. “Sometimes you have to just relax a little bit and trust it out there.”
Sale, with nine strikeouts and no walks, continued his stellar form with his fifth consecutive win.
A fielding error by right-hander Jameson Taillon on Orlando Arcia’s grounder contributed to the Braves’ explosive six-run fourth inning, highlighted by homers from Harris and Olson. Five runs in the inning were unearned.
Taillon, despite feeling satisfied with his stuff, struggled in the fourth inning, allowing seven runs, two of which were earned, in just four innings.
“I felt fine stuff-wise but the fourth inning got away from me,” Taillon said, adding, “I don’t think I need to overthink this too much.”
Harris started the fourth inning with his fourth homer of the season, his first since April 19. Olson, who had doubled in a run in the first inning, followed up with the three-run shot, his fifth homer of the season.
