PCA hits 2 homers, Cubs beat Braves 8-4

Pete-Crow Armstrong hit a pair of homers and Shota Imanaga allowed a run in six innings in an 8-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday night.

The Wrigley Field crowd chanted “M-V-Pete! M-V-Pete!” after his first home run, his 43rd to break Billy Williams’ Cubs record for left-handed hitters. They made their feelings known again after his RBI triple and after his 44th home run.

Alex Bregman went 3 for 4 with a home run, triple, double and four RBIs, and Crow-Armstrong added an RBI triple as the Cubs stayed a half-game ahead of the Phillies for the first NL wild card.

After allowing three hits in the first two innings, Imanaga (11-10) retired 11 straight batters before Ronald Acuna Jr. doubled and later scored in the sixth, striking out eight and walking none.

On a night when the Braves could have clinched a playoff spot with a win and results elsewhere, starter J.R. Ritchie (1-3) allowed six runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Bregman led off the fourth with his 26th home run, and Crow-Armstrong drove in Carson Kelly with a triple to right in the fifth before Bregman’s triple scored a pair of runs.

Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson, who has been out since August 16 with a left oblique strain, took six at-bats in a simulated game Wednesday and is on schedule to be activated Friday, Cubs manager Craig Counsell said.

Both teams are off Thursday. The Braves travel to Houston for a three-game series starting Friday, while the Cubs travel to Cincinnati.


(AP Photo Melissa Tamez)