The Atlanta Braves salvaged a split in its four-game series with a 7-3 win over the Chicago Cubs Thursday night at Turner Field. The Atlanta offense woke up and busted out the long ball belting four homers on the night and two in the first inning.
Jason Heyward put the Braves on the board early with a two-run homer to right off of Cubs starter Matt Garza. Two batters later Brian McCann followed with his two-run homer and Mike Minor had an early 4-0 lead.
That was plenty enough for Minor who allowed three hits and two earned runs in 6 1/3 innings of work to pick up his fifth win of the season. Matt Garza takes the loss after giving up five hits and five runs in just four innings.
Heyward, McCann, Martin Prado and Freddie Freeman all had two hits each for the Braves. McCann drove in three runs in the game and Juan Francisco added his sixth homer of the season in the eighth to give Atlanta some insurance.
Atlanta will open a three-game set in Philadelphia on Friday before heading into the All-Star break.
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