Cubs score two in 9th to steal win in Atlanta

Darvish pitches four innings in return; Schwarber gets key outfield assist

May 15th, 2018

ATLANTA -- The Cubs got to Braves closer for two runs in the top of the ninth in Tuesday's 3-2 win at SunTrust Park, with providing the go-ahead single.
With the Cubs down, 2-1, after s solo homer in the bottom of the eighth, Albert Almora Jr. and hit back-to-back one-out doubles to tie the game at 2 and set the stage for Zobrist's two-out single to center that scored Russell.
"It was pretty nice in the fashion that we did it, too," Russell said. "I feel like there were opportunities there that it could have gone either way, but we capitalized. It was huge tonight."

, who was activated from the disabled list earlier in the day, threw 61 pitches over four innings, giving up one run on three hits -- one of which was 's solo homer to right -- with five strikeouts and two walks. He exited the game with cramping in his right calf.
"He came up and talked to me and wanted to go back out, but I said, 'No, I don't think that's wise,'" Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "And that's why I went and talked to the umpire to grab more time for [reliever Mike] Montgomery. I had to get Monty up quickly because of that, because I anticipated him going back out, but the guy, having been ill recently … He did a great job today, and that's why I did what I did."

Darvish has only made it past the fifth inning in two of his seven starts this season.
"This year, especially, the fifth inning has been the most challenging thing, so I think it's really important to go out there and throw through the fifth inning," Darvish said, through an interpreter.
The Cubs scored first in the top of the fourth when , who led off the frame with a double, came around to score on Braves catcher 's error on a throw to first following a wild-pitch strikeout of Russell.

"Really interesting, we scored that first run on a very awkward play," Maddon said. "We'll take it. They get two homers, and then we scratch it out at the end."
MOMENT THAT MATTERED
Schwarber throws out Freddie: The Cubs got a key out at the plate when threw out Freddie Freeman there in the first inning. Freeman stole second with two outs, and was hit by Contreras' throw. The ball caromed into left field, and Freeman was rounding third before Schwarber could get to it. But the Chicago left fielder picked it up and threw out Freeman at the plate to keep the game scoreless.

SOUND SMART
Over the last 19 games, Cubs starting pitchers are 7-6 with a 2.92 ERA, with opposing batters hitting just .219 against them in that span.
MITEL REPLAY OF THE DAY
With Montgomery pitching the bottom of the fifth, the Cubs were in a bind when 's errant throw to second on Charlie Culberson's fielder's-choice grounder allowed to advance to third. A wild pitch to looked like trouble, but catcher Contreras recovered to throw Camargo out at the plate. The Braves challenged the call, which was upheld after a two-minute replay review.

UP NEXT
will make his eighth start of the season on Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. CT and his sixth career start (eighth appearance) against the Braves; he's 2-2 with a 5.60 ERA against Atlanta. Veteran right-hander will get the start for the Braves.