ATLANTA (AP) — Jon Lester earned his fourth straight victory after allowing no earned runs in seven innings as the Chicago Cubs beat the Atlanta Braves, 13-2, to win their final series at Turner Field.
Lester (8-3) has allowed only one earned run with no walks in three wins this month, lowering his ERA to 1.89. He gave up five hits to the Braves, his high mark of the month, with seven strikeouts.
Chicago outscored Atlanta 21-4 in winning the final two games of the three-game series. Javier Baez hit a three-run homer off Chris Withrow to cap the Cubs’ six-run eighth inning.
Braves rookie right-hander John Gant (0-1), making his first start after seven relief appearances, allowed three runs, two earned, in 4 1/3 innings.
Royals 3, White Sox 1
CHICAGO (AP) — Yordano Ventura pitched seven sharp innings for Kansas City in his first start since he brawled with Manny Machado in Baltimore, and the Royals beat the Chicago White Sox for their second straight win following an eight-game losing streak.
Ventura (5-4) struck out a season-high 10 and walked one in his first win since May 17 against Boston, making the most of Kansas City’s run-scoring singles in the first and second.
Salvador Perez added a leadoff homer down the left-field line in the ninth.
Kelvin Herrera worked the eighth and Wade Davis finished for his 17th save in 18 chances, helping manager.
Carlos Rodon (2-6) shook off a slow start and pitched six effective innings for Chicago.