The Chicago Cubs hit three home runs under the lights at Wrigley Field en route to a 5-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves to open a three-game series on Monday. Starter Jeff Samardzija was excellent for the North Siders yet again, allowing just five hits and one run over seven innings while striking out seven. The win improves the Cubs to12-17, while the Braves fall to 18-12.
Right fielder Jason Heyward gave Atlanta a 1-0 lead in the second with a solo home run. Chicago wouldn't take long to answer. First baseman Bryan LaHair hit his eighth home run of the season to knot the game at 1-1. The next batter, third baseman Ian Stewart, would make it back-to-back solo homers for the Cubs when he took Atlanta starter Tommy Hanson deep for his third homer of the year.
Catcher Geovany Soto hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning for the Cubs, his third of the year.
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