Contreras, Lester lead Cubs past Braves 8-3 in battle of National League leaders

By ROBBIE WEINSTEIN

The Associated Press

CHICAGO - Willson Contreras wasn't happy with a called second strike in the second inning. He took his displeasure out on the next pitch, hitting it out of the park.

Contreras homered and had three RBIs, Jon Lester pitched five-hit ball through six innings and the Chicago Cubs beat the Atlanta Braves 8-3 Monday in a chippy matchup of NL division leaders.

"It's fun, because they're good and we're good," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "Monday night at 7:05 (p.m.), and to have that kind of an attitude or atmosphere is outstanding. That's what baseball needs."

Jason Heyward added a solo homer for Chicago, which moved one game ahead of Milwaukee in the NL Central. Lester (7-5) allowed two unearned runs and struck out seven.

The Cubs strung together five straight hits in a five-run fifth inning to break the game open. Kyle Schwarber doubled into the ivy to score Carlos Gonz lez. Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Javier B ez and Contreras followed with RBIs.

Tempers flared in the second inning when Contreras homered to right, giving the Cubs a 1-0 lead. Contreras turned to Braves catcher Tyler Flowers after the ball left his bat, and while rounding first base, gestured toward Atlanta's dugout and thumped his chest.

Contreras and Maddon downplayed the incident. Contreras was questioning a called strike that he felt was outside the zone.

"I just tell (Flowers) to do his job and I do mine," Contreras said. "To be honest, those pitches weren't even close to the strike zone. He got mad because I was talking to the umpire about that, and he jumped into the conversation."

Contreras and Flowers exchanged words as he returned to the dugout. Heyward escorted Contreras back to the dugout, and Teheran approached the third-base line.

The benches cleared, umpire John Tumpane warned both teams and players congregated on the third-base line. No blows were exchanged.

"I think it died down as soon as it was over," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "It was just a couple of catchers going at it a little bit."

B ez singled and stole second to lead off the fourth before Contreras made it 2-0. Contreras' single glanced off shortstop Dansby Swanson's glove and ricocheted into center field as B ez raced home.

Teheran (5-6) was roughed up for the second consecutive start. He allowed six runs in four innings last Tuesday against the Mets.

Nick Markakis drove in two runs with a single in the sixth inning. Swanson hit a towering solo homer in the seventh off Tony Barnette, who made his Cubs debut after being activated from the 60-day injured list.

Atlanta lost for the sixth time in 20 games.