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 The Chicago Cubs left fielder put an exclamation point on a
five-run eighth inning as Chicago went on to a 6-1 victory over the
Atlanta Braves in the opener of a three-game Wrigley Field series.
"I was super excited," he said. "I always want to contribute to the
team and make an impact and it's great to do so in that manner."
Anthony Rizzo had given the Cubs a 2-1 lead with a bases-loaded
single that scored Dexter Fowler, setting the stage for Szczur's
slam.
Szczur sent an 0-1 pitch from Braves reliever Chris Withrow into the
left-field bleachers to drive in Jason Heyward, Ben Zobrist and
Rizzo as the Cubs (17-5) collected their fourth straight win and
sixth in seven games.
The Braves (5-18) lost for the ninth time in 10 games.
"We're all happy for (Szczur)," said Cubs manager Joe Maddon. "He's
kind of a managers', coaches' kind of dream player because he knows
his role, he stays ready, he's good and he's very versatile. The
last step for him was to really realize he belongs in the major
leagues and can do this."
 Pedro Strop (1-0) worked one inning of relief for the victory, while
Jim Johnson (0-3) suffered the loss after pitching one-third of an
inning to open the eighth.
Chicago starter Jon Lester (2-1) gave up a solo home run and little
else but didn't get a decision as he left after seven innings with
the scored tied at 1-1. Lester struck out 10 and walked two while
allowing one run on seven hits.
"Jon Lester was outstanding today," said Braves first baseman
Freddie Freeman, who homered off the Cubs left-hander in the fourth
inning. "It's tough when he's got that cutter and his sinker command
like he had today. He made the pitches when he needed to."
Braves right-hander Aaron Blair (0-1) also had no decision after
being pulled for a pinch hitter in the seventh. He worked six
innings and allowed one run on two hits while striking out three and
walking three.
The Cubs had runners at second and third with two outs in the first
inning but both were stranded when Blair got Jorge Soler on an
inning-ending strikeout.
Freeman gave the Braves a 1-0 lead with his fourth-inning leadoff
home run to right.
Blair, meanwhile, held the Cubs hitless until the fifth when Javier
Baez bounced a lead-off double down the third-base line.
Baez scored when David Ross lined a single to left and Braves
outfielder Jeff Francoeur failed to pick up the ball, allowing Baez
to easily cross home plate for the equalizing run.
The Braves had the bases loaded with none out in the seventh. Lester
walked Tyler Flowers in that inning, and Erick Aybar put down a bunt
that Lester picked up but failed to throw to any base.
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Maddon came out to talk to Lester at that point.
"I know the play can mess with your head a little bit, but you're
still in good shape," Maddon said. "I wanted him to know that. I
know you still have to process the moment but regardless of every
level of experience, when something like that happens you'll get out
of your normal thought pattern."
Lester worked out of the jam. He got Drew Stubbs on a swinging
strike three, and pinch hitter Jace Peterson struck out looking.
Nick Markakis took Lester to a full count before grounding to first.
Braves reliever Alexi Ogando walked Rizzo and gave up a single to
Soler to open the seventh. Both runners advanced when Baez bounced a
grounder to second, and Addison Russell reached on an intentional
walk.
But that threat was extinguished as Ross hit into an inning-ending
double play.
NOTES: Cubs 3B Kris Bryant sat out Friday's game after suffering a
mild right ankle sprain during Thursday's 7-2 victory over the
Brewers. ...Friday's game in Chicago was the Braves' third in an
eight-game, three-city road trip that started with a split in Boston
and ends with three games against the Mets in New York. ... Atlanta
entered Friday already holding a franchise record for losses in
April (17) dating back to 1900. The Braves opened the season with
nine straight defeats and dropped eight in a row between April
20-27. ... Friday was a homecoming for Braves catching tandem of
Tyler Flowers and A.J. Pierzynski. Both formerly played for the
Chicago White Sox. ... The Cubs have now outscored opponents by 79
runs (136-57). It is the largest differential on the big leagues,
far ahead of second-place St. Louis. ... Cubs RHP Jake Arrieta's
Thursday victory gave him a 21-1 record with a 0.89 ERA since June
21, 2015. ... The Braves send RHP Julio Teheran (0-3, 4.60 ERA)
against Cubs RHP John Lackey (3-1, 4.97 ERA) in Saturday's middle
game.
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