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Uggla lifts Braves over Cubs

May 9, 2012 - 6:53 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Dan Uggla had three hits, including a go-ahead two-run single in the top of the eighth inning, lifting the Atlanta Braves past the Chicago Cubs, 3-1, in the second test of a three-game set.

Kris Medlen (1-0) picked up the win with a 1-2-3 seventh inning, while Craig Kimbrel retired the side in order in the ninth to notch his 10th save of the season.

Randall Delgado gave up a run on three hits and three walks in a 5 2/3-inning start for Atlanta, which has won four of its past five games.

"His learning curve is a short one," said Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez of his young starter Delgado. "...It's nice to see him pitch every fifth day."

The Cubs wasted another stellar outing from Ryan Dempster, who has yet to register a win this season despite leading MLB in ERA (1.02). Chicago has tallied just eight runs in his five starts this year. Dempster tossed seven strong frames, fanning seven while allowing a run on six hits and a walk.

"It'll come," said Dempster of being winless. "It's just more of a bummer because we had a chance to win three in a row, a chance to win a series...You can only control one thing when you're out on the mound and that's trying to put the ball where you want to put it."

With the contest tied 1-1 after seven innings, the Braves surged ahead with two runs in the eighth.

Kerry Wood (0-2) replaced Dempster on the mound and immediately gave up a single to Michael Bourn. Martin Prado followed with a walk. Freddie Freeman then nearly grounded into a 4-6-3 double play, but Freeman beat the throw to first. After Brian McCann walked to load the bases, Uggla ripped a single into center field to bring home Bourn and Freeman, giving Atlanta a 3-1 advantage.

Chicago had runners on first and second with one out in its half of the eighth, but Jonny Venters escaped the jam when the sinkerball got Bryan LaHair to ground into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.

The Braves finally got to Dempster in the fifth. Jason Heyward led off and smacked a deep triple to right field and Tyler Pastornicky followed and lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Heyward to make it 1-0 in favor of Atlanta.

Chicago, which had just one hit over its first five frames, came up with a pair of hits to tally a run and tie the score in the sixth. Tony Campana began the inning with a single to left field and moved to second two batters later when LaHair grounded out to second. Alfonso Soriano poked a two-out double down the right-field line to plate Campana.

Game Notes

Dempster is 0-7 in his last 14 starts dating back to last August...Wood's earned run average balloned to 14.54 this season...Chicago was 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position, while Atlanta finished 1-for-6...Bourn, who went 1-for-5, extended his hitting streak to 12 games.