Game Recap: Horton impressive as Cubs take down Braves

Jordan Godfree - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese · Senior Writer · 5 hours ago

ATLANTA - There is no question that throughout the second half of the season, Matt Shaw has been the Chicago Cubs' (82-63) best player. Considering where he was earlier in the season and where he is now, the Cubs have to like where he is trending, as they may have found their third baseman of the future.

The same can be said about fellow Rookie Cade Horton, who has not only emerged as one of the game's most promising arms, but you could make the case that if the playoffs were to start today, he would get the ball in game one. Sporting an ERA of just 0.84 since the All-Star break, Horton has all, but locked up the NL rookie of the year award as he has lowered his ERA to 2.70 for the season.

Making his second start in a week against the Atlanta Braves (65-80), with this one coming at Truist Park, it was more of the same for Horton as he had the Braves guessing from start to finish. Sure, the strikeout numbers were low as Horton only had two in his outing, but with one run and four hits allowed in 6 1/3, it was the Cubs finding a way to get things done as they took care of the Braves 6-1 to even up the series.

While Horton could be emerging as the rookie of the year this season, Spencer Strider was the rookie of the year a few years back, and had it not been for his injuries in recent seasons, you could be looking at him as one of the game's best arms. Like Horton, Strider was making his second start in a week against, but unlike the last time, this was different as the right-hander was charged with two runs across six innings, striking out eight in what was a tough loss for him to swallow.

Both of the runs he allowed came from Pete Crow-Armstrong, who is hoping to get hot down the stretch. With the Cubs loading the bases three batters into the game off a leadoff Michael Busch walk and a pair of singles from Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki, it was Crow-Armstrong putting the Cubs on top as his sacrifice fly made this a 1-0 game.

Chicago was unable to do anything else in that inning, but with that part of the order doing damage again in the third, it was Crow-Armstrong coming through again as his RBI knock stretched the Cubs' lead to 2-0. The lone run for Atlanta came immediately after the Crow-Armstrong single as Ronald Acuna Jr led the inning off with a double to set the Braves offense up.

Three batters later, it was Jurickson Profar cashing in as his RBI single cut the Cubs' deficit in half and pulled them to within 2-1. That would be it for the Braves and their offense as Horton allowed just two fifth-inning singles the rest of the way for what was another dominating start. The same can be said about Strider, who settled in to throw three consecutive scoreless innings to end his start as both bullpens were set to take over in the eighth.

Still leading by a 2-1 score late, it was that man again, Crow-Armstrong, reaching base. As a one-out hit by pitch put a runner on base for the Cubs. He would wind up stealing second only to have three consecutive walks push in another run as Dansby Swanson was credited with the RBI on his bases-loaded walk.

One batter later came the knockout blow as Shaw continued his hot hitting with an RBI single to center that would end up scoring a pair to make this a 5-1 game. An additional run would end up scoring on that play, off an error, as Chicago opened up a commanding 6-1 lead. That was as close as things would get for Atlanta, as the duo of Caleb Thielbar and Ben Brown took the ball late and went on to throw two perfect innings.

Brown was the more impressive of the two, as he came away with two strikeouts and no walks. Chicago will look to secure a series win on Wednesday when they send Jameson Taillon, fresh off the IL, to face future Hall of Fame lefty Chris Sale.