Jays win 2-1 vs. depleted Braves

ATLANTA — Hyun-Jin Ryu combined with four relievers on a two-hitter as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the shorthanded Atlanta Braves 2-1 on Wednesday night.

Ryu lasted only five innings but was dominant as he gave up only one hit, an infield single by Adam Duvall in the second. Duvall homered in the seventh off Thomas Hatch.

Anthony Bass issued a one-out walk in the bottom of the ninth to Marcell Ozuna, who moved to second on Travis d’Arnaud’s single to left field. Duvall hit into a double play to end the game as Bass earned his second save of the season.

Ryu (1-1) struck out eight as he showed the form that produced a Major League Baseball-best 2.32 ERA for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019. The left-hander from South Korea, who signed a four-year, $80 million contract with the Blue Jays in December, had an 8.00 ERA in his first two starts for Toronto.

The Braves were forced to recast their lineup after placing Matt Adams and Ozzie Albies on the injured list and giving Freddie Freeman a day off.

The new-look unit, which included Charlie Culberson at second base and Austin Riley at first base, didn’t resemble the group that had 13 hits in a 10-1 win over the Blue Jays on Tuesday night.

On Wednesday, Toronto took a 1-0 lead in the second when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled just beyond Ender Inciarte’s leaping attempt at a catch at the wall in center field. Guerrero scored from third on Danny Jansen’s fly ball to right field.

Bo Bichette singled, stole second and scored on Cavan Biggio’s single in the fifth. The run-scoring hit by Biggio knocked Sean Newcomb (0-1) out of the game after the left-hander allowed five hits and two runs in 4 2/3 innings.

Before Duvall’s homer in the seventh, Travis d’Arnaud’s drive to left field was caught at the wall by Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Left-hander Ryan Borucki then struck out Freeman, who was pinch-hitting for Riley. Right-hander Jordan Romano struck out Ronald Acuña Jr. to cap a perfect eighth.