Braves Top Cubs 4-1 as Snitker Earns 800th Win

Bryce Elder delivered 6 1/3 effective innings and the Atlanta Braves defeated the Chicago Cubs 4-1 on Monday, securing manager Brian Snitker’s 800th career victory. The result ended Atlanta’s two-game skid and evened the season series with Chicago at two wins apiece.

Elder (7-9) gave up just one run on five hits and a walk, striking out six before departing in the seventh with runners on the corners. He has now allowed only a single run in each of his past three starts, lowering his ERA to 1.37 across his last four outings. Raisel Iglesias worked the ninth for his 25th save.

The Braves set the tone with a three-run rally in the first inning after two quick outs. Ozzie Albies launched his 16th home run, a 435-foot drive to center. Ha-Seong Kim followed with a single and scored on a double by Drake Baldwin. Ronald Acuña Jr., ending a career-long 0-for-25 slump, added an RBI single to cap the surge.

Chicago broke through in the seventh when Nico Hoerner doubled, moved to third on a ground ball, and scored on Matt Shaw’s sacrifice fly. Atlanta responded in the eighth as Matt Olson connected for his 23rd home run, another solo shot to center, restoring the three-run margin.

Snitker’s milestone win makes him the 86th manager in MLB history to reach 800 victories and the third in Braves history, joining Hall of Famers Bobby Cox (2,149) and Frank Selee (1,004).

Cubs starter Shota Imanaga (9-7) was charged with the loss despite retiring the final 12 batters he faced. He went six innings, yielding three runs on five hits while striking out four.