Bobby Cox managed the Atlanta Braves for 25 seasons. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

The Atlanta Braves opened a crucial series against the Chicago Cubs with a 5-2 victory.

Before Tuesday night’s game against the Chicago Cubs, the Atlanta Braves requested a moment of silence in honor of late manager Bobby Cox and former team owner Ted Turner. Both men have been credited with changing the franchise forever. The three-game set against the Cubs, one of the best teams in baseball through the first quarter of the season, was the first time the team had been at Truist Park since the men passed away last week.

Grant Holmes was on the mound for Atlanta and pitched in spots. Didier Fuentes came into the game in the fifth inning and held the Cubs scoreless for three innings. Dylan Lee (0.95 ERA in 19 innings) came on in the eighth inning, and Raisel Iglesias closed it out in the ninth.

Flowers, notes, baseball, and bags of peanuts have been left at the feet of the Bobby Cox statue at Truist Park. Cox, who managed the Braves for decades, passed away last week. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

The first run of the game came from an unlikely source: Yaz. Hitting just .200 at the start of the game, Mike Yastrzemski gave the Braves a 1-0 lead when he doubled home Dom Smith, who singled to open the third inning. The Cubs tied the game and later took the lead in the fourth when Alex Bregman hit a solo home run off Holmes, and then, with the bases loaded, Moises Ballesteros grounded out into a fielder’s choice while driving in a run.

This season, the Braves’ offense has continued to find a way to generate runs whenever needed. Down 2-1 in the fifth, Atlanta got a solo home run from Austin Riley, a two-run home run from Mike Yastrzemski, and an RBI double off the right field wall from Matt Olson to go ahead 5-2.

Related


Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Donnell began his career covering sports and news in Atlanta nearly two decades ago. Since then he has written for Atlanta Business Chronicle, The Southern Cross…
More by Donnell Suggs