Game Recap: Taillon returns as Cubs earn series win against Braves

Dale Zanine - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese · Senior Writer · 11 hours ago

ATLANTA - The Chicago Cubs (83-63) are no strangers to September Swoons, and the Atlanta Braves (65-81) have played a role in that over the last few years. Given the way this team has performed in September, many fans are expecting another late-season debacle, as that has been the team's DNA since 2023.

However, there are some fans who believe this year is different, and what better way to prove that this season is distinct than by securing a rare series win at Truist Park? That is what the Cubs were up against on Wednesday as Jameson Taillon returned from the IL to face Chris Sale in what was the rubber match of the week.

While Taillon pitched well enough to win, the real story in this one was the Cubs' bullpen, as they were about as good as you can possibly be this entire series, and they capped it off by going 4 2/3 scoreless innings on Wednesday to give the Cubs a 3-2 series win. With Taillon now back in the rotation, the Cubs have the ability to rest some guys down the stretch, as they could go with a six-man rotation from here on out.

Taillon may not have had the start he wanted to have, going just 4 1/3 innings, but with only two runs allowed on six hits, he did what he had to do to keep the Cubs in the game. That was especially crucial as Chicago was up against one of the best lefties in the game, and considering they are one of the worst-hitting teams against lefties, things didn't look good on paper.

Like Taillon, Sale didn't last as long as he would've liked, allowing three runs in five innings while striking out nine as his ERA is now 2.52 for the season. To show how dominant Sale was in the early innings, look at the strikeout totals, as eight of his nine Ks came in the first three innings. Had it not been for a pair of Nico Hoerner singles in the first and third, the Cubs would've been searching for a hit as things remained scoreless early.

It wasn't until the bottom of the third that the Braves struck first, as a pair of doubles from Marcell Ozuna and Nacho Alvarez Jr led things off, and the Alvarez single gave the Braves the 1-0 lead. Taillon walked Matt Olson later in the inning only to pitch out of the jam, but given how strong Sale looked early, it was looking as if one run would be enough.

Leave it to Carson Kelly to change all that as the catcher continued his impressive season with a leadoff homer to begin the fourth as the Cubs pulled even 1-1. Dansby Swanson added a single two batters later before stealing second as the Cubs were on the verge of tacking on another run. In what has been a rough season for Justin Turner, he has had some big at-bats since the All-Star break, and this was no exception, as he came away with a huge RBI double to put the Cubs on top for good, 2-1.

Hoerner continued to have his way with Sale in the fifth, picking up his third hit in as many tries to lead things off, and reached base with a single. Hoerner then showed off the wheels as he reached second on an errant pick-off throw from Sale before stealing third for his 26th stolen base of the season. It was the steal of third that proved to be the biggest play of the night as Seiya Suzuki followed that up with a sacrifice fly to push the Cubs' lead to 3-1, as that would go down as the game-winning RBI.

As was the case in the third, Ozuna got the offense started for the Braves in the fifth, connecting for his second leadoff double of the night. After the Jurickson Profar single two batters later moved him to third and put runners on the corners, Craig Counsell saw enough as Taylor Rogers was called on to relieve Taillon on the hill.

Rogers was the first of a long line of relievers who got the job done in this one, but with Olson coming through with a sacrifice fly, it was the Braves within a run as that run was charged to Taillon. From that moment on, this was all about the Cubs pen Rogers combined with Porter Hodge, Caleb Thielbar, Brad Keller and Andrew Kittredge to close things up as they didn't allow a run the rest of the night and only one hit which came off Keller in the eighth.

The same can be said about the Braves and their bullpen, as they were more than up to the task of matching the Cubs' bullpen to keep things close. Things did get a little dicey for the Braves in the sixth with Michael Busch and Willi Castro grabbing singles off Pierce Johnson, but nothing came from it as the Cubs wasted a scoring chance.

Then came the ninth, where the Cubs had a real chance to break things open as a leadoff walk to Pete Crow-Armstrong was just what the doctor ordered. Following a Hoerner fielder's choice that erased PCA, it was Hoerner getting thrown out trying to steal second as the Cubs' sudden rally came to a crashing halt.

To show how crucial that was, both Ian Happ and Suzuki answered that with a pair of singles as the Suzuki single would've brought home a run, but instead it was the Cubs clinging to their 3-2 lead in the ninth. This was one of those games where it didn't matter, as Kittredge secured his third save with the Cubs by working a perfect ninth as the Cubs picked up the massive 3-2 win.

Hoerner had a massive night at the dish, leading the Cubs with three hits and setting the tone most of the night. Kelly added two hits to go with his 17th homer as the Cubs connected for 11 hits in the win. Next up for Chicago is an off day on Thursday before they welcome in the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend for their final Interleague series of the season.