Associated Press
The National League Roundup …
CHICAGO ó Brian McCann finally got his swing back where he likes it.
The Braves are pretty happy with it, too.
McCann homered twice and Atlanta beat the Chicago Cubs 8-3 Thursday.
“I just haven’t really swung the bat that great since coming off the DL. When you don’t feel good and you face good pitching, it’s an exposure,” he said. “I’ve been working in the cages the last three or four days trying to find it, and today I made some strides.
“I went down to the cage this morning. It was the first time I could go up to the plate and know I’m going to put together a good at-bat.”
McCann hit a three-run homer in the first and a solo shot in the seventh for his eighth career multi-homer game.
“What more can you ask for? He puts us on his back and carries us some days,” Braves starter Brandon Beachy said. “He’s tremendous behind the plate at the same time. It’s nice to have.”
Michael Bourn had a career high-tying four hits, scored two runs, and drove in a run.
It was his first four-hit game since being acquired from the Houston Astros on July 31.
“Man, what a pickup for us,” McCann said. “He brings so much to the table. He plays a good center field and can fly. It’s everything we’ve needed around here for the last four or five years.”
Marlon Byrd homered and Tyler Colvin added a triple and a run for the Cubs, who committed four errors.
Beachy (7-2) won his fourth straight decision, recovering from a shaky start to pitch six innings. He allowed six hits, two earned runs and struck out eight.
Diamondbacks 8, Nationals 1
WASHINGTON ó Wade Miley threw six scoreless innings to get his first major league victory, and Chris Young and Paul Goldschmidt homered for Arizona.