CHICAGO -- Chris Johnson and the Atlanta Braves capitalized on a day when the ball was flying at Wrigley Field. cheap jerseys . And Mike Minor toughed it out on a day when it was tough to pitch. Johnson homered twice and Minor hit his second career home run, leading the Atlanta Braves over the Chicago Cubs 11-6 on Saturday. Johnson and Justin Upton each drove in four runs for the Braves. Johnson and Minor homered and Upton hit a three-run double as Atlanta scored six times in the fourth inning for a 9-3 lead. "Its one of those days at Wrigley when you get the ball up in the air and the ball keeps travelling," Johnson said. "Mike battled though. Its a tough place to pitch on days like this. He battled and kept us in the game. We were able to get enough. Minor (3-5) allowed six runs and 11 hits in six innings, improving to 6-0 in his career against the Cubs. The Braves won for the second time in seven games. They hit no home runs in their previous six games and one in their last 12 games. Upton and Justin Heyward had RBI singles in the ninth for Atlanta. David Carpenter pitched two innings for his third save. "Today is one of those days we need all the offence we can get because the wind was blowing out, typical Wrigley Field wind blowing out," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "We never felt comfortable." Chris Coghlan hit two doubles and drove in three runs for the Cubs, who have lost seven of nine. Edwin Jackson (5-10) lasted just 3 2-3 innings after giving nine runs, seven hits and three home runs. "Its just one of those embarrassing, horrendous games," Jackson said. "Flat out, theres no other way to put it. Your team does a great job and battles back, and you continually give up the lead. Its pretty much unacceptable." The Cubs scored three runs in the fifth to cut the lead to 9-6. One run scored on a passed ball before Coghlan hit a two-run double. Johnsons second homer of the day and fifth of the season was a two-run shot and made it 5-3 in the fourth. Johnsons third career multihomer game was his first since 2012. "Im not trying to hit home runs," Johnson said. "I got the first one pretty good. The second one I think it was just a line drive." Minor padded the lead with a solo shot. His other home run came in 2013 against the New York Mets. "I remember both (home runs)," Minor said. "The other one surprised me a little bit because I didnt think I could hit the ball like that. Today, I tried to stay back a little bit more. He threw me, I felt like, the same pitch the first at-bat and I was coming around it. It was one of those days I felt like I was seeing the ball good, got lucky and hit it." NOTES: Gonzalez said he was undecided about the order of his rotation after the All-Star break. He said Minor and Alex Wood would be staggered. "It depends on what happens in the next two days, whos healthy and if somebody needs a few extra days," Gonzalez said. ... Braves C Evan Gattis (bulging disk) was scheduled to take part in light drills and batting practice at the Single-A facility in Rome, Georgia, for the second straight day. While encouraged, Gonzalez said no timetable had been set for his return from the disabled list. wholesale nfl jerseys . -- Dwight Howard vs. jerseys cheap nfl . LUCIE, Fla.VANCOUVER - Many fans were anxious to see how the newest Vancouver Canucks would fare in their first home game Thursday night. But in the end, some wily veterans stole the spotlight as the Canucks blanked the St. Louis Blues 2-0 in a showdown for first place overall in the NHL. Alex Burrows early third-period goal gave the Canucks a lead they would never relinquish, then Chris Higgins added an insurance goal into an empty net in the games final minute as Roberto Luongo secured his third shutout of the season with a 29-save effort. "It felt a little bit like a playoff game on the ice," said Burrows. "Two good teams going at it, theres not a lot of room. Its good hockey. Sometimes, those shinny games where its more open and more goals, it might be more exciting for the fans. But for us, if we get the win either way, were happy." The Canucks (41-16-8) retained top spot, building a three-point cushion on the Blues (40-18-7) and the idle Detroit Red Wings. Vancouver ended St. Louis win streak at four games -- all on the road. "These guys are right behind us, so it was a big game," said Luongo, who praised his teammates for not allowing any dangerous scoring chances, even though Vancouver was outshot 29-24. "We wanted to create a little separation there and we were able to do that tonight. But, obviously, theres lots of hockey to be played." Burrows finally opened the scoring 4:17 into the third period as he backhanded a Dan Hamhuis rebound off the end boards into the net, nicking the shoulder of St. Louis goaltender Brian Elliott. The puck came to Hamhuis after Kevin Bieksa fanned on a slapshot. "Its a measuring stick for us," said Elliott. "We didnt measure up tonight." Winger Zack Kassian, centre Sammy Pahlsson and defenceman Marc-Andre Gragnani played their first game in Vancouver after being acquired from Buffalo at Mondays trade deadline in a surprise four-player deal that sent fan favourite Cody Hodgson the other way. Kassian and Pahlsson had played Tuesday in Phoenix while Gragnani was a healthy scratch. Kassian and Gragnani quickly made an impression. But the rest of the Canucks did not. The Blues outshot the Canucks 10-0 before Kassian registered the Canucks first shot of the game at the 7:52 mark of the first period, a slapshot from the wing. The crowd let out a loud roar of approval after Kassian got the puck out of the Vancouver zone, kept it in moments later at the St. Louis blue-line, and then unleashed his slapper. It was the first of four shots that he registered on the night, all in an opening periiod in which the Blues outshot the Canucks 13-8. nfl jerseys china. Kassian also registered four hits in 11:04 of ice time. Gragnani had just one shot, off Kassians rebound on the aforementioned slapshot. The defenceman, playing his first NHL game since Nov. 12 when he was still with the Sabres, took Hodgsons spot on the point on the second power-play unit. He struggled early and took a cross-checking penalty, but was solid the rest of the way while showing offensive creativity on the blue-line. Pahlsson was quietly effective in about 13 minutes of ice time on a hard-working fourth line with Kassian and Max Lapierre that was strong on the forecheck throughout the game. The trio impressed Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault, who attributed his clubs slow start to the effects of its recently concluded six-game road trip. "They brought exactly what those guys can bring," said Vigneault. "They brought a lot of energy and the opportunity was there to wear down their players, especially their defence. They finished their checks. So I really liked what those guys did tonight. "(Kassian) brought exactly what my scouts said he would. Hes a player that can skate, see the ice offensively, take pucks to the net, and hes got a physical edge to his game. Hes a first-year player that has got a tremendous amount of upside, a real good skill set, and Im very happy with what Ive seen so far." Vigneault wasnt just impressed with Kassian. "(Pahlsson) did exactly what I thought he would do," said the Canucks head coach. "In Gragnanis case, I think you can see the upside as far as the skating and the hands, the offensive potential there." Play was more even in the second period. St. Louis coach Ken Hitch**** called a timeout midway through the period after the Canucks pressed, and his team settled down. But neither team could turn the red light on behind steady goaltenders Elliott and Luongo. Hitch**** said fatigue caught up to his club in the third period as it was playing the second of back-to-back road games. "We made tired mistakes," said Hitch****. "They were on the mark, they checked us hard in the third period and we didnt have the energy to keep going." Notes: Hitch**** is on pace for the ninth 100-point season of his 15-year NHL head coaching career. He also surpassed 100 points four times during his junior coaching days with the Kamloops Blazers. ... Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault pulled Luongo for a sixth attacker before a face-off in the St. Louis end with under two seconds left in the second period. However, the Blues won the draw to erase any threat. wholesale jerseyscheap jerseys ' ' '
