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McCann's 2-Run Single Helps Braves Beat Error-Prone Cubs 8-0

ATLANTA (AP) — Brian McCann had eagerly anticipated his first game back in Atlanta since signing with the Braves in November.

It turned out to be worth the wait.

Chicago Cubs v Atlanta Braves
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 01: The Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs stand during the National Anthem on April 01, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

McCann hit a two-run single in a four-run first inning, and the Braves took advantage of six Chicago errors to beat the Cubs 8-0 on Monday night.

"This is one of those moments I'll think about when I'm done playing the game," McCann said. "This is my home, so it meant a lot to me."

The 35-year-old McCann grew up near Atlanta and played his first nine seasons with the Braves before stints with the Yankees and Astros. He received a loud ovation from a sellout crowd before his first at-bat.

After being swept in their first series at Philadelphia, the Braves became the final major league team to win a game. Ender Inciarte and Ronald Acuña Jr. homered off Kyle Hendricks (0-1).

Hendricks gave up seven runs, two earned, on 10 hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings. The right-hander's 2019 debut came after he agreed to a four-year extension last week that added $55.5 million to his contract through 2023.

Hendricks said he made "just way too many non-competitive pitches up."

The Cubs have allowed seven or more runs in three straight losses since opening the season with a 12-4 win at Texas. The six errors were the most by the Cubs in a nine-inning game since also making six on June 14, 1982, against Philadelphia.

"Hopefully that was just an anomaly game," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.

The Cubs' fielding woes started with Atlanta's first batter.

Rookie Mark Zagunis dropped Inciarte's foul pop-up in left field for an error in the first inning. On the next pitch from Hendricks, Inciarte hit a homer over the 375-foot mark in right-center.

A throwing error by shortstop Javier Báez on a grounder by Nick Markakis allowed Josh Donaldson, who reached on a single, to score from second as the long first inning continued. Finally, Zagunis was part of a trio of Cubs fielders who watched Ozzie Albies' blooper fall in shallow left field for a double later in the first. That play set up McCann's two-run single.

Albies had three hits.

The struggles for Zagunis continued in the second when he took a called third strike to end the inning with Wilson Contreras on third base. Zagunis later had two doubles.

Sean Newcomb threw 91 pitches in four trouble-filled innings. He gave up six hits with four walks. He left the bases loaded in the third when David Bote's grounder to third base ended the inning.

Wes Parsons (1-1) threw one perfect inning in relief of Newcomb for his first career win.

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