MLB: Atlanta 7, Chicago Cubs 3

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ATLANTA, July 5 (UPI) -- Jayson Heyward and Brian McCann each hit a two-run homer in the first inning Thursday, starting Atlanta on its way to a 7-3 win over the New York Mets.

McCann drove in a third run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth and Juan Francisco tacked on a solo homer in the eighth in helping the Braves earn a split of the four-game series.

Staked to an early 4-0 lead, Atlanta starter Mike Minor (5-6) lasted 6 1/3 innings to get the win. He gave up three runs, one of them unearned, on three hits with six strikeouts.

Geovany Soto hit a solo shot for the Cubs in the fifth and Reed Johnson had a two-run single in the seventh that briefly cut the Chicago deficit to three.

Matt Garza (4-7) surrendered five runs on five hits in four innings to take the loss.