Takeaways from Atlanta's 7-6 comeback win over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night

Sean Murphy provided the late inning heroics, with an assist to Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki

Lindsay Crosby | Sep 26, 2023

The Atlanta Braves came back to defeat the Chicago Cubs, 7-6, thanks to a clutch two-out 8th inning hit by Sean Murphy and an assist from Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki. Here's what you need to know from the game:

Dansby Swanson was greeted warmly in his first game back in Atlanta

Swanson, who started at shortstop in Atlanta for six years and won the 2021 World Series with the team, made his return to Atlanta after signing a seven year, $177M contract with the Chicago Cubs last offseason.

He got a hero's welcome.

The Braves played a video tribute to Dansby during pregame ceremonies, with the Atlanta fans giving Dansby a standing ovation. They repeated the standing ovation during the shortstop's first at-bat, showing their appreciation to "Lieutenant Dans."

Bryce Elder struggled in one of his last postseason "tune-up" games

Elder, thrust into the NLDS rotation thanks to the finger injury to Charlie Morton, did little to comfort anxious Braves fans that he'd be up to the task of a postseason start in October.

Elder left the game in the 4th inning after five runs scored on seven hits, walking four and striking out only two. It brings his season ERA up to 3.81 and unfortunately continued the trend of poor pitching performances Atlanta's seen from him after the All-Star Break and from the pitching staff as a whole in September.

The Cubs built a 6-0 lead in this one, which would normally be a death sentence for a normal MLB offense (especially if it were the postseason).

Atlanta didn't have many answers for Justin Steele

The Cubs lefty came into this game against MLB's #1 power hitting lineup with the best home run rate in all of baseball, and he mostly won the matchup.

Steele, who throws only two pitches but can vary the velocity and break of both of them to keep hitters off balance, was cruising for much of this contest - Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II combined for three doubles, but Steele struck out six consecutive Braves at one point until Pillar got Atlanta on the board with his 9th homer of the year (and Atlanta's 300th).

Steele eventually left in the sixth inning of tonight's game after a Matt Olson single scored a 2nd Atlanta run and left two runners on.

Jose Cuas and Javier Assad were unable to keep Atlanta from chipping away at the lead, with Atlanta whittling the lead down to 6-5 entering the 8th inning.

Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki sealed the win for Atlanta

The Cubs brought former Braves pitcher Drew Smyly on for the 8th inning, and Atlanta made him work.

Smyly walked Matt Olson to open the inning, and two wild pitches advanced him to 3rd. After Orlando Arcia walked and Forrest Wall, who pinch-ran for Arcia, reached 2nd base thanks to a steal, Smyly looked for a minute like he might get out of the jam and preserve the lead with two strikeouts.

But enter Seiya Suzuki.

The foreign-born player, who won five straight Gold Gloves in the Japan Central League before coming over to the States and signing with Chicago, committed only his third defensive error of the season on a Sean Murphy pop fly.

It was a costly one too, as missing the lazy fly ball allowed both Atlanta runners to score and turned a 6-5 Cubs lead into a 7-6 Bravaes lead.

Raisel Iglesias came on for the 9th and earned his 31st save of the year with a scoreless ninth inning.

So what's next for the Braves?

Atlanta's whittled the Magic Number for National League home field advantage down to one, pending the outcome of tonight's Dodgers-Rockies game. These two teams meet again Wednesday night in Truist Park at 7:20 PM ET, with Jameson Taillon starting for the Cubs. The Braves announced after the game that Darius Vines would get the start.

Check out Braves Today on Socials!
Follow Braves Today on Twitter!
Like Braves Today on Facebook!
Check out the homepage for more Atlanta Braves News!
Subscribe to Braves Today on YouTube!
Get Exclusive Braves Merchandise from FOCO

Published Sep 26, 2023

LINDSAY CROSBY

Managing Editor for Braves Today and the 2023 IBWAA Prospects/Minors Writer of the Year. You can reach him at contact@bravestoday.com