Ian Happ -- General News

The Chicago Cubs defeated the Atlanta Braves 2-0 on Thursday at Truist Park in the series finale, snapping their four-game losing streak—their longest of the season. During that stretch, the Cubs managed only three runs while batting .108 as a team. The victory comes after the team experienced multiple streaks through their first 44 games, including a 10-game winning streak and two separate three-game losing streaks earlier in the season.

Right-handed pitcher Ben Brown impressed in his second start of the season, allowing just one hit with seven strikeouts through four innings on 65 pitches. Brown replaced Matthew Boyd, who remains sidelined after left meniscus surgery. Entering Thursday's game, Brown had limited opponents to a .175 batting average with opponents going 6-for-44 against his knuckle curve, and he struck out six batters using that pitch on Thursday, including Braves first baseman Matt Olson twice.

Offensively, Ian Happ broke out of a 14-game hitless stretch with a solo home run in the eighth inning for his 10th of the season. Happ had nine strikeouts in his last four games entering the matchup. Miguel Amaya returned to the lineup after dealing with back tightness, going 1-for-4 with a strikeout. The Cubs' victory extends their home winning streak to 15 games, marking their longest such streak since 1935.

The Chicago Cubs defeated the Atlanta Braves 2-0 on Thursday, May 14, 2026, snapping a four-game losing streak with a dominant pitching performance. Ian Happ provided the offensive highlight with a long home run in the eighth inning that traveled 424 feet to right field off Reynaldo López, extending the Cubs' lead to 2-0.

The Cubs scored their first run in the sixth inning when Braves shortstop Ha-Seong Kim committed an error. With Happ on first base, Kim flipped the ball over second baseman Ozzie Albies' head on a grounder from Seiya Suzuki, loading the bases. Matt Shaw's fielder's choice then scored Happ for the 1-0 lead.

Five Cubs pitchers combined on the shutout. Ben Brown made his second consecutive start after beginning the season in relief, allowing just one hit over four innings while striking out seven batters on 65 pitches. Hoby Milner (1-0) earned the win with two scoreless innings, while Phil Maton, Jacob Webb, and Daniel Palencia (three saves) each contributed scoreless innings. The Braves, who lead Major League Baseball in runs scored, were held to just five hits and shut out for only the second time this season. Chris Sale pitched six innings for Atlanta, allowing one unearned run with eight strikeouts.

The Chicago Cubs are off to a historically great start in their 150th anniversary season, driven significantly by outfielder Ian Happ's consistent performance. The team posted a 10-game winning streak before losing 6-0 to the Texas Rangers. This achievement places them among elite company: only four other MLB teams have recorded two winning streaks of at least 10 games within their first 39 games of a season—the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers, 1941 St. Louis Cardinals, 1887 St. Louis Browns, and 1880 Chicago White Stockings.

Happ, the Cubs' longest-tenured player, exemplifies the experienced, well-rounded roster that enables this level of sustained excellence. Manager Craig Counsell emphasized Happ's greatest strength as his consistency across the grueling 162-game season, noting that maintaining the same energy and effort level daily across six months is exceptionally difficult. Happ maintains this standard through rigorous daily preparation, including FaceTime consultations with a posture therapist to manage wear and tear.

The 28-year-old switch-hitter and plus defender has also made a significant mark on the franchise record books this season, surpassing Hall of Famers Andre Dawson (174 career homers) and Derrek Lee (179) with 182 home runs. His two-way skills fit seamlessly within the Cubs' deep, versatile roster construction—a key component of their historic start.