Braves 4, Cubs 1
Mike Minor pitched into the eighth inning and Justin Upton homered for the third time in four games as host Atlanta won the opener of a three-game series.
Rookie Evan Gattis finished with three hits as the Braves won for the third time in four games. Minor (1-0) allowed five hits and one run in 7 1/3 innings, with no walks and seven strikeouts.
Upton connected in the first, a line-drive to left center off Chicago starter Scott Feldman (0-1). Feldman allowed four runs on five hits, walked four and struck out one in 4 2/3 innings.
Scott Hairston hit a solo homer off Minor in the fifth to bring the Cubs within 2-1. Juan Francisco pushed the Braves’ advantage to 4-1 in the bottom of the inning, singling to left to score Jason Heyward and B.J. Upton.
Craig Kimbrel pitched a perfect ninth for his second save.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Minor improved to 5-0 lifetime against the Cubs. … Chicago 1B Anthony Rizzo went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts, dropping his average to .083. … Upton drove in his fifth run in the third on a sacrifice fly to right.