ATLANTA -- Based on the streaks the Cubs have put together through their first 44 games, it already feels as though they have lived through an entire season.
Thursday’s 2-0 win against the Braves at Truist Park snapped Chicago’s four-game losing streak -- their longest of the season -- coming into the matchup scoring only three total runs while batting .108 (13-for-120) as a team in that span.
The Cubs had a 10-game winning streak followed by a three-game losing streak -- twice this season. They will be riding a 15-game home winning streak, their first since 1935, when they return home to face the White Sox.
Here are some takeaways from the series finale:
Brown continues to impress
Ben Brown made his first start of the season last Friday against the Rangers, tossing four scoreless innings (46 pitches) while starting in place of Matthew Boyd, who remains on the IL after undergoing surgery on his left meniscus.
The right-hander was stretched to 65 pitches through four frames on Thursday, giving up only one hit with seven strikeouts. Coming into his outing, he limited opponents to a .175 batting average, with hitters going 6-for-44 with 17 strikeouts against his knuckle curve this season. He struck out six batters on that same pitch on Thursday, including Matt Olson twice.
Happ breaks hitless streak
Ian Happ came into the game hitless in his last 14 at-bats, with nine strikeouts in his last four games.
He drew a leadoff walk in the sixth inning, before Seiya Suzuki reached on a throwing error by Braves shortstop Ha-Seong Kim. Matt Shaw followed with a groundout that gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead. In the top of the eighth, Happ hit a solo shot, his 10th of the season, to extend the lead.
Amaya back in lineup
Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya returned to the lineup for Thursday's series finale after dealing with back tightness that surfaced the day after their May 7 win over the Reds.
Since then, Carson Kelly has handled most of the catching duties, while Moisés Ballesteros started the series opener against the Braves at Truist Park on Tuesday.
Amaya participated in baseball activities that day, doing fielding work and taking live at-bats before rejoining the lineup on Thursday. The 27-year-old went 1-for-4 with a single, striking out once.