Bounceback: Freeman hits 3-run homer, Braves beat Cubs 8-7

ATLANTA (AP) — Freddie Freeman hit a three-run homer and the Atlanta Braves woke up offensively after a grim doubleheader, overcoming a grand slam by Kris Bryant to beat the Chicago Cubs 8-7 Monday night.

The Braves were coming off two shutout losses to Arizona the previous afternoon — managing just a single hit over 14 innings. Madison Bumgarner held Atlanta without a hit in his seven-inning victory, though it did not qualify as an official no-hitter.

Eager to make up for that embarrassing performance, the Braves pounded Zach Davies for four runs and five hits in the very first inning. Travis d'Arnaud's two-run single was the biggest blow.

The Cubs tied it on Bryant's sixth career grand slam, a shot off Charlie Morton (2-1) that landed in the Chicago bullpen with two outs in the third.

But Freeman broke a 5-all tie with a mammoth, two-out shot of his own, driving one deep into the right-field seats against Brandon Workman (0-2).

The right-hander's knees buckled when the reigning NL MVP made contact, while right fielder Jason Heyward barely moved as the ball sailed over his head.

Freeman got the Braves' only hit Sunday, a single off Zac Gallen in the opener of the twinbill.

Dansby Swanson also homered for the Braves, a solo shot in the third.

Morton scraped out the win, despite surrendering five runs in 5 1/3 innings.

Willson Contreras hit a two-run homer off Tyler Matzek in the seventh, but three Braves relievers combined to preserve the win. Will Smith worked around a walk in the ninth for his fifth save.

It was another rough outing for Davies, who has not made it past four innings in any of his last four starts.

He was lifted after just 3 2/3 innings against the Braves, having allowed six hits, five runs and four walks. Over his last 13 1/3 innings, the right-hander has...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Bounceback-Freeman-hits-3-run-homer-Braves-beat-16131059.php