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Atlanta Braves (32-33) at Chicago Cubs (41-24), 8:05 p.m.

(Sports Network) - The National League Central-leading Chicago Cubs have been nearly unstoppable at Wrigley Field this season and will shoot for their ninth straight home win tonight, with the second test of a three-game series versus the Atlanta Braves.

Geovany Soto belted a three-run homer while Reed Johnson and Derrek Lee each drove in two runs for Chicago in Tuesday's 10-5 victory over the Braves, which upped the Cubs' MLB-best record to 41-24 this season.

Alfonso Soriano was 2-for-3 and scored twice in the win, which pushed the Cubs' home record to 27-8. The tremendous start at Wrigley is the franchise's best at home since the 1907 team opened with a 27-8 mark before winning the World Series.

Cubs starter Ted Lilly lasted 6 2/3 innings and allowed three runs on four hits while striking out eight to pick up the win. Chicago, which is 2 1/2 games ahead of St. Louis in the Central standings, has won 12 of its last 15 games overall.

Ryan Dempster gets the call tonight for the Cubs and will put his perfect home record on the line. In eight starts at the historic ballpark this season, Dempster is an awesome 7-0 with a 3.10 earned run average. He is 7-2 with a 2.90 ERA in 13 overall starts this season.

Dempster last took the mound on Thursday at Los Angeles and did not factor in the Cubs' 5-4 victory. He yielded three runs and five hits through five innings of work.

The right-hander hasn't fared too well in his career against Atlanta, as he sports a 1-10 record with a 5.65 ERA in 24 games (13 starts).

Atlanta will try to put the brakes on a four-game losing streak on the road when they take the field on Wednesday. The Braves, who have also dropped four in a row overall, fell to an MLB-worst 7-22 as the visitor this season following last night's setback.

Greg Norton hit a three-run homer for the Braves, while Brian McCann and Omar Infante knocked in the other runs in the team's losing effort.

Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones, who has a major league-best .420 batting average, was not in the starting lineup for a second consecutive game because of a slight tear in his right quadriceps. Jones did enter the game as a pinch- hitter with two outs in the top of the seventh. He worked a walk and was immediately lifted for a pinch runner.

Braves starter Tom Glavine lasted only three innings and gave up four runs on six hits before leaving with a strained left elbow. The southpaw also walked four batters and was placed on the 15-day disabled list after the game.

Buddy Carlyle yielded one run on two hits in three innings in relief of Glavine, and Manny Acosta was charged with five runs -- one earned -- on four hits in 1 2/3 innings of work.

Atlanta is 0-1 on a 10-game road trip against the Cubs, Angels, Rockies and Rangers.

Jair Jurrjens gets the ball for the Braves tonight, and he is 6-3 with a 3.77 earned run average in 13 trips to the hill in 2008. Jurrjens is 2-0 in his last five outings and last toed the rubber on Thursday versus Florida. He was reached for five runs and 11 hits in six frames, but still recorded the win in a 7-5 Braves' victory.

The right-hander, who has never faced the Cubs, sports a 1-3 record with a 4.84 ERA in six road starts this season.

Atlanta went 5-4 against the Cubs last season, with a 2-1 record at Wrigley Field. The Braves are 17-7 against Chicago since the start of the 2005 campaign and 7-3 in the Windy City over that stretch.


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