Johnson hits 2 HRs, Minor homers, Braves beat Cubs 11-6

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Arkansas-SEMO Live Blog
photo Atlanta Braves' Chris Johnson (23), right, celebrates with Jason Heyward (22) after hitting a two-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago on Saturday, July 12, 2014.

CHICAGO - Chris Johnson homered twice and pitcher Mike Minor hit his second career home run, leading the Atlanta Braves over the Chicago Cubs 11-6 on Saturday.

Johnson and Justin Upton each drove in four runs for the Braves. Johnson and Minor homered and Upton hit a three-run double as Atlanta scored six times in the fourth inning for a 9-3 lead.

Minor (3-5) allowed six runs and 11 hits in six innings. He improved to 6-0 in his career against the Cubs.

The Braves won for the second time in seven games.

Chris Coghlan hit two doubles and drove in three runs for the Cubs, who have lost seven of nine.

Edwin Jackson (5-10) lasted just 3 2-3 innings after giving nine runs, seven hits and three home runs.

Upton and Justin Heyward had RBI singles in the ninth for Atlanta. David Carpenter pitched two innings for his third save.

The Cubs scored three runs in the fifth to cut the lead to 9-6. One run scored on a passed ball before Coghlan hit a two-run double.

Johnson's second homer of the day and fifth of the season was a two-run shot and made it 5-3 in the fourth. Johnson's third career multihomer game was his first since 2012.

Minor padded the lead with a solo shot. His other home run came in 2013 against the New York Mets. After Jackson departed with the bases loaded and two out, Upton doubled off Carlos Villanueva.

The Cubs went ahead 1-0 in the first on Justin Ruggiano's RBI single. He delivered the winning single in the ninth inning of Friday's series opener.