Harang, HRs help Braves complete sweep of Cubs
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Atlanta, GA (SportsNetwork.com) - Evan Gattis and Jason Heyward both homered to back a solid start from Aaron Harang, as the Atlanta Braves completed a three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs with a 5-2 triumph on Sunday at Turner Field.
Harang (4-3) struck out nine and held the Cubs to two runs on six hits and two walks over six innings. Anthony Varvaro, Ian Thomas and Alex Wood combined to keep the visitors off the board over the next two frames before David Carpenter worked a 1-2-3 ninth to secure his second save of the season.
Gattis stroked a solo homer in the fourth and scored twice, while Heyward added some insurance with a two-run blast in the seventh for the Braves, who have won four of their last five games.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Chicago starter Edwin Jackson (2-3) allowed three runs on six hits and two walks over six frames to absorb the loss.
Nate Schierholtz smacked a two-run double for the Cubs, who have lost seven of their last eight games.
"We gotta try to pick each other up," Chicago second baseman Darwin Barney said, referring to the team's recent rough patch. "We have one goal in mind and that's to get better and be a team that is tough to beat day in and day out."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Braves struck first in the bottom of the second, as Gattis worked a leadoff walk before Chris Johnson and Ryan Doumit stroked consecutive singles, with the latter plating Gattis for a 1-0 lead. Andrelton Simmons then scorched a double off the base of the wall in left to score Johnson for a 2-0 margin.
Schierholtz's two-run double off the wall in right field scored Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro to tie the game in the fourth, but Gattis crushed the first pitch of the home half into the seats in left to give the Braves a 3-2 lead.
"The ball's not traveling too well in Atlanta but I thought I got it pretty good," Gattis said of his home run.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Heyward provided the Braves' bullpen with some breathing room in the seventh. Chicago reliever James Russell plunked Dan Uggla to start the frame and two batters later, Heyward launched his third homer of the season over the wall in right to make it 5-2.
Game Notes
The Cubs lost seven straight road games against the Braves, with their last win in Atlanta coming on July 4, 2012 ... Chicago went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base ... Atlanta improved to 13-0 this season when scoring first ... The sweep was Atlanta's third of the season.