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 was rolling right along when he realized his Atlanta Braves teammates were beginning to avoid him. They had a good reason.

Smith-Shawver (2-2) was trying for the first no-hitter in the majors this season. The rookie right-hander struck out five and walked four in eight splendid innings, throwing 60 of his 99 pitches for strikes.