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LaHair lifts Cubs to series win over Braves

May 9, 2012 - 11:40 PM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Bryan LaHair continued his early-season production, knocking in the game's only run in the seventh inning to help the Cubs take the rubber match of a three-game set with the Braves, 1-0, on Wednesday.

David DeJesus singled to lead off the seventh, moved to second on Tony Campana's sacrifice bunt and third on Starlin Castro's groundout. LaHair then roped a single into the hole in left and DeJesus jogged home.

LaHair raised his average to .384 and batted in his 18th run of the season, while starter Paul Maholm (4-2), James Russell and Rafael Dolis combined for the four-hit shutout as Chicago won its third in four tries. Dolis converted his third save of the year with a perfect ninth.

Tim Hudson (1-1) suffered the setback, despite surrendering just five hits and the lone run over seven innings.

"You know [Hudson] is a ground-ball guy, you know he's a competitor and he gets after it, so you know you have to throw up zeros," said Maholm of the pitcher's duel.

Scoreless in the fourth, Starlin Castro tried to plate the first run by legging out an inside-the-park home run on a ball down the line; he was out by several feet after a strong relay throw home by Dan Uggla, however.

Atlanta had runners in scoring position in each of the fifth, sixth and eighth innings, but failed to procure a run.

"It was just unfortunate today, we couldn't really get anything going. And when we did, we hit a ball right at somebody," said Braves third baseman Chipper Jones.

Game Notes

Maholm allowed three hits and three walks with three strikeouts over seven innings...Atlanta's Michael Bourn (0-for-4) had a 12-game hitting streak snapped...The Braves finished 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left seven on base...Atlanta concludes a nine-game road trip with three at St. Louis beginning Friday...Chicago travels to Milwaukee for a three-game NL Central set starting Friday.