Samardzija strikes out 11, Cubs beat Braves, 4-1

By Charles Odum

Associated Press

Published: Monday, July 2 2012 7:55 p.m. MDT

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CORRECTS PLAYER ON RIGHT TO DARWIN BARNEY, NOT ALFONSO SORIANO - Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann runs down the ball as Chicago Cubs' Steve Clevenger (51), Bryan LaHair, center, and Darwin Barney, right, score on the double by teammate Luis Valbuena in the seventh inning of their baseball game on Monday, July 2, 2012, at Turner Field in Atlanta.

David Tulis, Associated Press

Summary

Jeff Samardzija had a career-high 11 strikeouts, Luis Valbuena hit a three-run double in the seventh and the Chicago Cubs beat the Atlanta Braves 4-1 on Monday night.

ATLANTA — Jeff Samardzija had a career-high 11 strikeouts, Luis Valbuena hit a three-run double in the seventh and the Chicago Cubs beat the Atlanta Braves 4-1 on Monday night.

Anthony Rizzo connected for Chicago, which has won four straight and six of seven. Rizzo, one of the Cubs' top prospects, has two homers in six games since he was recalled on Tuesday.

Samardzija (6-7) yielded one run and four hits in seven innings, rebounding from a rough June. The right-hander was 0-4 with a 12.27 ERA in his previous four starts, allowing a season-high nine runs during a 17-1 loss to the Mets on Wednesday.

Jeff Russell pitched the ninth for his second save.

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