A.J. Smith-Shawver carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning and the Atlanta Braves defeated the visiting Cincinnati Reds 4-0 on Monday in the opener of their three-game series. Smith-Shawver (2-2) pitched a career-high eight innings and allowed no runs on one hit -- a leadoff single by Santiago Espinal in the eighth -- with four walks and five strikeouts.

AJ Smith-Shawver dazzles for the Braves, holding the Reds to one hit over eight shutout innings in a 4-0 win at Truist Park

AJ Smith-Shawver was rolling right along when he realized his Atlanta Braves teammates were beginning to avoid him. The 22-year-old rookie right-hander hadn’t given up a hit against the Cincinnati Reds — and the rest of the Braves didn’t want to jinx him.