Montero, Soler homer in 8th as Cubs rally past Braves
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 22: Miguel Montero #47 of the Chicago Cubs hits a home run against the Atlanta Braves during the eighth inning on August 22, 2015 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Cubs won 9-7.(Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
Miguel Montero and Jorge Soler broke a tie with back-to-back solo homers to start the eighth inning, and the Chicago Cubs overcame homers from both sides of the plate by Nick Swisher in a 9-7, comeback win over the Atlanta Braves -- their third straight win -- on Saturday.
Montero and Soler both lofted balls into the left field basket off former Cub Edwin Jackson (2-2), sending Atlanta to its sixth straight loss.
Swisher homered from both sides of the plate in the same game for a record-tying 14th time to drive in four runs.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Batting left-handed, Swisher lofted a wind-blown, two-run shot to left field off Cubs starter Dan Haren in the second. Hitting right-handed against Travis Wood, he lined a two-run blast to left to cap a five-run rally that put Atlanta ahead 7-3 in the fifth.
He tied the Yankees' Mark Teixeira, who homered right- and left-handed most recently in a game on July 31 against the White Sox. Swisher was acquired from Cleveland on Aug. 7.
Cubs rookie Addison Russell hit a solo shot in the sixth to tie the game at 7. The homer withstood a video review after a fan reached over the wall trying to catch the ball.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Anthony Rizzo also went deep for Chicago and had two RBI. Dexter Fowler had three hits, including a triple, and Kris Bryant knocked in two runs with a double.
The Cubs bounced back after Atlanta's five-run fifth with three runs in the bottom of the inning -- capped by an RBI double by Montero -- to cut it to 7-6.
Atlanta's A.J. Pierzynski had three hits and drove in two runs. Braves rookie starter Williams Perez lasted only 4 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on eight hits, and hasn't won in the majors since June 20.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Pedro Strop (2-6), the Cubs' fourth reliever, got the win. Hector Rondon pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 23rd save in 27 chances.
Haren pitched just 4 1/3 innings in his fourth start with the Cubs since being acquired at the non-waiver trade deadline from Miami. Haren, who leads the National League with 28 homers allowed, gave up four runs on four hits.
UP NEXT:
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Braves RHP Matt Wisler (5-3, 4.65 ERA) takes the mound against Cubs RHP Jason Hammel (6-5, 3.38 ERA) in the finale of the four-game series Sunday afternoon. Wisler is one of four Braves to make his debut as a starter this season and has never faced the Cubs. Hammel was hit hard in his last outing, a loss Tuesday to Detroit, giving up five runs on nine hits in three innings.