It takes the whole roster sometimes, right? Well, we’re certainly seeing some unbelievable contributions, some unlikely moments – and, with tonight’s 4-1 victory over the Cubs, the Braves are the first MLB club to achieve 30 wins this season. At 30-13, Atlanta maintains a 9-game lead over 2nd place Washington, 10 games now over Philly.

Though he had his chance at glory, it wasn’t Dom Smith tonight. No, it was Mike Yastrzemski reprising last night’s heroics with a game-winning RBI double in the bottom of the 8th; then it was Mauricio Dubón – of course! – who followed with a 2-run HR for the final margin. Man, I can get used to this.

Tonight’s contest began as a classic pitchers’ duel. Braves rookie JR Ritchie and Cubs starter Shota Imanaga combined to retire the first 13 batters of the game. But one hurler was a bit tighter than the other tonight. Imanaga was a model of efficiency, while Ritchie’s effective curveball bailed him out of some deep counts. Luckily, this time out, he only walked 3. 

Ritchie cruised thru the first two innings, and was aided by Ozzie’s nifty backhand play on lead-off man Nico Hoerner’s smash up the middle. He ended the first by locking up Alex Bregman on a chest-high change. In the 2nd, he whiffed Ian Happ on a wonderfully sharp curve. By the 3rd inning, Braves pitching had retired 21 consecutive Cubs hitters, including last night’s game.

A little lefty with great command and an animated personality, Imanaga’s always fun watch. His repertoire – a 4-seamer with movement, a big sweeper and a nasty cutter – relies more on deception than power. As Braves great Warren Spahn famously said, “Hitting is timing. Pitching is upsetting timing.” Imanaga certainly embodies that ethos.

Leading off the bottom of the 4th, Drake Baldwin finally cracked the scoreboard by launching a pretty good 2-2 sweeper, down and away, into the Braves bullpen – HR #11. The guy’s just a good hitter. 1-0 ATL.

Easing into the 5th, Cubs catcher Carson Kelly lead off with a single and advanced on a dribbler 1-3 putout. After walking Dansby Swanson, WW pulled Ritchie (87 pitches) in favor of Tyler Kinley, who quickly surrendered a game-tying single to Hoerner, then wriggled out of trouble. At 1-1, Imanaga started cruising, as he threw goose-eggs in innings 5 thru 7, retiring 10 in a row, and maintaining his efficient pace – only 91 pitches.

From the Braves bullpen, lefty Martín Pérez quickly burned thru the 6th and collected 2 Ks with a vicious cutter and a devastating change. The seemingly unhittable Dylan Lee took over in the 7th & quickly retired the bottom of the Cubs’ order (also w/ 2 Ks). In the 8th, Robert Suarez gave up a one-out single to Bregman, who stole second, and a 2-out walk to Happ before pulling the string on Suzuki who whiffed badly.

Bottom half of the 8th, Imanaga returned to the mound and Harris dribbled one toward Cubs 2B Hoerner whose one-motion glove scoop launched the ball over 1B Busch’s head – infield single, I guess. Cubs manager Craig Counsell brought in RHP Phil Maton & everything unraveled for Chicago.

Ha-Seong Kim greeted Maton with a single to LF – 2 on, nobody out. Straight out of central casting, PH Dom Smith seemed ready for his close-up. Unfortunately, Dom whiffed, putting another pinch-hitter, Yaz, on the edge of glory. He got it by lacing a double in the RCF gap, driving in Harris, but ultimately seeing Kim cut down at the plate on a tidy Cubs relay. No problem – enter the amazing Mauricio Dubón, who blasted a hanger over the LF fence, his third of the season. He must be drinking dragon blood or something. 4-1 ATL.

In the 9th, Iglesias shook off a lead-off walk, induced a double play and locked things down with a harmless pop-up. Ballgame.

Braves shoot for the sweep tomorrow night at 7:15. The Cubs send the suddenly effective Long Islander Ben Brown (1-1, 1.82 ERA) against Braves ace Chris Sale (6-2, 2.20). Go Braves.