April 29--Cubs 6, Braves 1
Pinch-hitter Matt Szczur hit his first career grand slam during a five-run eighth inning Friday, when the Cubs topped the Braves 6-1 at Wrigley Field. Szczur's previous four home runs had all been of the solo variety. The Braves fell to 5-18.
At the plate
David Ross singled home Javier Baez in the fifth to tie it for the Cubs before Anthony Rizzo's bases-loaded single made it 2-1 in the eighth.
On the mound
Cubs pitcher Jon Lester struck out 10, walked two and gave up seven hits and a run in seven innings but didn't figure in the decision. The victory was awarded to Pedro Strop, who threw a scoreless eight.
In the field
Rizzo started a nice 3-6-1 double play to end a Braves threat in the sixth inning when he fielded Adonis Garcia's bunt.
Key number
1. Years since the Cubs have started a season this well. The 1907 team was 17-4.
The quote
"You have to get inside somebody's head. You probably have to weigh the worth in a sense, whether to try it and then maybe attain a large contract; is it even worth that? I don't know. We all process chance differently." -- Maddon on the 80-game PED suspension handed down to the Marlins' Dee Gordon.
Up next
Vs. Braves, 1:20 p.m. Saturday, ABC-7. RH John Lackey (3-1, 4.97) vs. RH Julio Teheran (0-3, 4.60).
