Cubs Stay Hot With 6th Straight Win, Sweep Of Braves
ATLANTA (AP) — Mike Montgomery hit his first home run and allowed two hits and one run in six innings to lead the streaking Chicago Cubs to an 8-2 win over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday.
Javier Baez hit a three-run homer in the eighth for Chicago, which stretched its season-best winning streak to six games since the All-Star break. The Cubs completed a three-game sweep of the Braves.
Kris Bryant, the Cubs' 2016 NL MVP, left the game with a sprained left little finger in the first inning. The team said X-rays were negative and his status is day to day.
Tommy La Stella, who replaced Bryant, also homered and Addison Russell drove in two runs with four hits, including two doubles.
The Braves loaded the bases with three singles off Koji Uehara in the eighth. After Pedro Strop replaced Uehara, Matt Kemp grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Montgomery (2-6) earned his first win since June 20. The only run he allowed came on a sixth-inning leadoff homer by Ender Inciarte. It was Montgomery's best start since throwing six scoreless innings in a 4-0 win over San Diego on June 20.
Tyler Flowers led off the seventh with a homer off Justin Grimm.
Montgomery reached the second level of the right-field seats with his homer off R.A. Dickey (6-6) in the fifth inning.
Bryant's injury scare threatened to spoil the Cubs' win.
After hitting a double to center field off Dickey, Bryant tried to advance to third base on a pitch in the dirt. He slid head-first into third base and was thrown out by Flowers. Bryant immediately looked at his left hand when he rose to his feet.
The Cubs have won their first six games since the All-Star break for the first time since 1935.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Braves RHP Arodys Vizcaino (strained right index finger) was activated from the DL. He pitched the ninth inning and gave up a run in his return after missing 11 games. OF Lane Adams was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett. The moves left Atlanta with an eight-man bullpen after a brief experiment with seven relievers and an extra position player. ... 1B Freddie Freeman left the game due to an illness.
UP NEXT
Cubs: Following an off day on Thursday, Jake Arrieta (9-7, 4.17) will face St. Louis on Friday in only his seventh home start of 20 overall this season.
Braves: Mike Foltynewicz (7-5, 3.84) will make his first career start against the Dodgers in the opening game of a four-game series at Los Angeles on Thursday night.
Copyright 2017 The Associated Press.