ATLANTA (AP) - 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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