The fifth inning changed everything. Atlanta scored five times to break a 2-2 tie and defeat Chicago 7-2 at Truist Park, with Mike Yastrzemski delivering the decisive blow.
Yastrzemski went 2-for-2 with three RBIs, capping his night with a two-run homer to right field that extended Atlanta's lead to 4-2. The outfielder also drove in the game's first run with a third-inning single. Austin Riley added a solo homer in the fifth, going 2-for-4 with one RBI.
The Cubs had briefly taken the lead in the fourth inning. Alex Bregman homered to left field to tie the game 1-1, then Ballesteros grounded into a fielder's choice that scored Happ for a 2-1 advantage. But Riley's homer in the fifth tied it again, setting up Yastrzemski's decisive swing. Olson capped the rally with an RBI single.
Colin Rea took the loss for Chicago, allowing five runs on seven hits over 4.1 innings. The right-hander struck out one and walked one. Didier Fuentes earned the win for Atlanta with three scoreless innings of relief, allowing no hits while striking out three.
Atlanta extended its winning streak to two games and improved to 28-13. Chicago fell to 27-14 with its second straight loss. Bregman sits two doubles away from 300 career doubles, while Albies is two stolen bases from 100.