Braves 16, Cubs 5
Rookie Jason Heyward and Omar Infante had four hits - including a pair of homers - and drove in four runs apiece and rookie Mike Minor struck out 12 batters as the Atlanta Braves spoiled Lou Piniella's last game as manager of the Chicago Cubs with a 16-5 triumph on Sunday.
A three-time manager of the year, Piniella announced on Sunday that he was retiring at the conclusion of the contest to be at home with his ailing mother. The 66-year-old Piniella had said previously that he was going to walk away at the end of the season.
Third base coach Mike Quade was promoted to interim manager of the Cubs.
Derrek Lee belted a three-run double and Alex Gonzalez added a two-run single for Atlanta (73-51), which won its sixth consecutive series after taking two of three from the Cubs.
The offense was more than enough for Minor (2-0), who allowed three runs and six hits in as many innings to pick up his second straight win.
Aramis Ramirez belted a two-run homer and Marlon Byrd and Blake DeWitt had RBI singles for Chicago (51-74), which committed three errors en route to its 20th loss in 25 contests.
Randy Wells (5-12) permitted five runs and seven hits in six innings to suffer his fifth straight loss.