The Central already closed. This is the East clock at Wrigley.
Associated Press / CBS Sports / ESPN: Atlanta 6, Chicago 3, Tuesday night at Wrigley Field. Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies, and Drake Baldwin each hit a two-run homer. The Braves sat 89–63. They opened a 5½-game National League East lead over the second-place Phillies. Cubs 84–68 kept a half-game lead over Philadelphia (83–68) for the top NL wild card. Chicago’s loss also clinched Milwaukee’s fourth straight Central. That 5–1 already ran. This page is 6–3.
Sixth: Acuña homered to left off Kevin Gausman, Baldwin scored, 2–3. Seventh: Albies went deep to right off Jacob Webb (6–5) — his eighth homer in 23 games at Wrigley — 4–3. Ninth: Baldwin homered to right off Edward Cabrera, Albies scored, 6–3. Martín Pérez (9–9): six innings, three runs, two earned, five hits, four walks, two strikeouts, 90 pitches. Raisel Iglesias: perfect ninth, 33rd save in 36 chances. Hits: Braves 9, Cubs 5. Errors: Braves 1, Cubs 0.
Gausman had retired 16 of his first 18 with a 3–0 lead. Pedro Ramirez had an RBI single in the second. Shortstop Mauricio Dubón a run-scoring throwing error in the fourth; Miguel Amaya a sacrifice fly. AJC: Atlanta’s magic number to clinch the East is five; they can take it as early as Saturday. A magic number is not a clinch. Wednesday starters posted: Cubs LHP Shota Imanaga (10–10, 3.88) and Braves rookie RHP JR Ritchie (1–2, 4.50). We will not invent that score.
What this means for you
If you needed 5–1, that file exists. If you needed the East, Atlanta has a 5.5-game lead, not a banner yet. 6–3 is the score.
Bottom line: Braves 6–3. Three two-run homers. 5.5 up in the East. Iglesias 33rd save.
GLHR NEWS explains the news. Not investment, tax, or trading advice. Do your own work before you act.
