Cubs 7, Angels 2
CHICAGO -- Left-hander Travis Wood was sharp through nearly seven innings while his teammates clubbed a season-high five home runs as the Chicago Cubs cruised to a 7-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night.
Wood (6-6) collected his first win in six starts, working 6 2/3 innings while allowing just two earned runs on four hits.
The victory was the Cubs' fourth straight.
Darwin Barney's three-run home run with none out in the sixth chased Los Angeles starter Joe Blanton (2-11). Blanton gave up six earned runs, walked three and struck out three. The four home runs he allowed were a season high.
Barney's fifth home run drove home Dioner Navarro and Nate Schierholtz. Earlier, Anthony Rizzo, Alfonso Soriano and Starlin Castro contributed solo homers.
Albert Pujols broke the shutout in the seventh with his 14th home run of the season and the 489th of his career. The two-run shot also brought in Mike Trout. Mark Trumbo then walked with two out and reached third on Alberto Callaspo's double to left.
That was it for Wood, who departed to applause. Right-handed reliever Matt Guerrier walked pinch hitter Hank Conger to load the bases but got Brad Hawpe to strike out swinging.
Soriano clubbed his second solo home run of the night off reliever Michael Kohn with one out in the seventh. It was his 15th homer of the season as he hit multiple home runs for the 33rd time in his career.
The Cubs' five home runs were their most at Wrigley Field since Sept. 17, 2006.
Wood, who struck out five and walked just two, became the first Cubs pitcher with 17 quality starts prior to the All-Star break since Greg Maddux in 1988.
He gave up a first-inning hit to Pujols and no more until the sixth, when Chris Iannetta singled down the right-field line.
Wood had not won since May 30, a run of five starts with three losses and two no-decisions.
The Cubs rocked Blanton in the first with back-to-back solo home runs for a 2-0 lead. Rizzo sent a 2-2 pitch to deep right for his 13th home run of the season. Soriano then went the other way on a 1-0 pitch with a shot to left field for his 14th.
It was the fourth time this season the Cubs had consecutive home runs in an inning.
Castro joined the bases-empty homer brigade in the third with a one-out shot for his fifth homer of the season and a 3-0 Chicago lead.
Chicago has homered in each of its last 10 games and 19 of 21 since June 18.
NOTES: The two-game series concludes with Wednesday's 7:05 p.m. (CT) start as Angels LHP C.J. Wilson (8-6) goes against Cubs RHP Jeff Samardzija (5-8).
The series marks the Angels' second visit to play the Cubs. They were the last current major-league club to never play a night game at Wrigley Field. ... Pujols has 27 home runs in 87 games against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. He spent 11 seasons with the Cardinals, with many trips to Chicago. ... RHP Shawn Camp cleared waivers and was given his unconditional release by the Cubs on Tuesday. He had a 7.04 ERA and had allowed seven home runs in 23 innings. He was designated for assignment last week. ... The Cubs have used 41 players -- including 23 pitchers -- so far this season to match a franchise record of players used before the All-Star break. The 23 pitchers used before the break is a team record. The previous mark was 20 matched four times, the last in 2011.
