Braves 5, Cubs 2
Evan Gattis and Jason Heyward homered, and Aaron Harang struck out nine as host Atlanta finished a three-game sweep.
Gattis’ solo homer in the fourth snapped a 2-2 tie, Heyward added a two-run shot in the seventh, and Chris Johnson and Ryan Doumit collected two hits apiece for the Braves. Harang (4-3) gave up two runs on six hits with two walks in six innings, and David Carpenter pitched the ninth for his second save.
Nate Schierholtz doubled home both Chicago runs, and Darwin Barney and Starlin Castro each finished with two hits. Edwin Jackson (2-3) surrendered three runs on six hits in six innings.
The first four Atlanta hitters reached base against Jackson in the second, with Doumit’s single scoring Gattis and Andrelton Simmons’ double off the base of the left-field wall plating Johnson. Chicago tied the game in the fourth when Schierholtz doubled off the right-field wall, scoring Anthony Rizzo and Castro.
The Braves took control with the long ball as Gattis hit Jackson’s first pitch of the fourth deep into the left-field seats and Heyward crushed James Russell's breaking ball over the fence in right in the seventh. Harang made the most of his strikeouts, fanning consecutive hitters to end the third with two runners on and striking out three hitters in a row in the fourth after Schierholtz’s game-tying hit.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Braves scored five runs for the first time since April 25 and have won four of their past five entering a six-game road trip to San Francisco and St. Louis. … The Cubs have dropped four of five to begin their nine-game road swing, and head to St. Louis next for a four-game set. … Atlanta LF Justin Upton did not play after being hit with a pitch in the back Saturday.