ATLANTA — Bryce Elder didn’t ease the concerns of a fan base preparing to see their team enter its second straight postseason with an injury-depleted rotation. But the Braves offense reminds these fans that it can compensate for some of the difficulties.
Sean Murphy capped a late-inning rally with a two-out, misplayed fly ball that gave the Braves a 7-6 victory over the Cubs on Tuesday night at Truist Park. Murphy’s fly ball in the eighth looked routine until it eluded right fielder Seiya Suzuki’s glove in the final second.
Elder struggled, allowing five runs in 3 2/3 innings. The Braves were down 6-0 when Kevin Pillar started a three-run sixth with a homer off Justin Steele. Ronald Acuña Jr. hit a two-run, opposite-field homer in the seventh. Murphy’s two-out game-winner came after Matt Olson and Orlando Arcia drew walks against former Brave Drew Smyly.