Acuña, Albies, Baldwin hit late 2-run homers that lift Braves over Cubs 6-3

CHICAGO (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies and Drake Baldwin hit late-inning, two-run homers, and the Atlanta Braves rallied to beat the Chicago Cubs 6-3 on Tuesday night.

Chicago's loss clinched Milwaukee's fourth straight NL Central title. The Cubs (84-68) maintained a half-game lead over Philadelphia (83-68) for the top NL wild card.

NL East-leading Atlanta (89-63) opened a 5 1/2-game NL East lead over the second-place Phillies.

Given a 3-0 lead, Cubs starter Kevin Gausman retired 16 of his first 18 batters.

Acuña homered off Gausman in the sixth to pull the Braves within a run. Albies went deep in the seventh off Jacob Webb (6-5), his eighth home run in 23 games at Wrigley Field, and Baldwin connected in the ninth against Edward Cabrera.

Martín Pérez (9-9) allowed three runs — two earned — five hits and four walks in six innings. Raisel Iglesias pitched a perfect ninth for his 33rd save in 36 chances.

Pedro Ramirez hit a RBI single in the second. Shortstop Maurico Dubón had a run-scoring throwing error in the fourth inning and Miguel Amaya followed with a sacrifice fly.

Cubs LHP Shota Imanaga (10-10, 3.88 ERA) and Braves rookie RHP JR Ritchie (1-2, 4.50 ERA) start Wednesday night.

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Atlanta Braves' Ozzie Albies, right, celebrates with Brewer Hicklen after hitting a two-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago Cubs' Matt Shaw, right, scores on a sacrifice fly by Miguel Amaya as Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin looks to the field during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Atlanta Braves' Ozzie Albies celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuña Jr. celebrates as he round the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuña Jr., center, celebrates with Matt Olson, left, and Drake Baldwin after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

CLEVELAND (AP) — Brayan Rocchio came through again, hitting a two-run double with two outs in the ninth inning to give the Cleveland Guardians a comeback 7-6 win over the Chicago White Sox that tightened the AL Central race on Tuesday night.

With runners at second and third, Rocchio, who has seven career walk-off plate appearances, hit a fly toward the left-field corner off Grant Taylor (7-3) that just eluded a diving try by outfielder Sam Antonacci.

When the ball hit the turf, Rocchio flung his helmet in the air and Cleveland's dugout emptied onto the field to celebrate. Rocchio has developed a knack for late-season heroics with four of his walk-off hits coming in September.

The Guardians' rally moved them within a half game of the first-place White Sox. The teams will play the series finale on Wednesday. The White Sox, who lost at least 100 games in each of the past three seasons, have held at least a share of first since July 4.

Rookie Travis Bazzana hit a pair of homers for Cleveland. Closer Cade Smith (6-1) got five outs — on just 16 pitches — and should be available Wednesday.

Jo Adell and Bazzana hit back-to-back homers in the first inning for the Guardians, who couldn't capitalize on their early 3-0 lead and fell behind before coming up with a victory that kept their division title hopes alive.

Down 4-2, the White Sox scored four in the sixth with Miguel Vargas delivering his two-out single.

Chicago loaded the bases off Cleveland's Craig Yoho on a pair of walks and a single before Chase Meidroth hit an RBI single, Randal Grichuk had a sacrifice fly and Vargas ripped a single into left off reliever Hunter Gaddis.

Adell was acquired at the trade deadline to give Cleveland more power, and he provided plenty in the first with his 22nd homer — a 442-foot shot.

Rookie LHP Parker Messick (11-9, 2.51 ERA) starts the series finale for the Guardians. He's 1-1 against the White Sox, who have yet to name a starter.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Cleveland Guardians' Travis Bazzana (37) is congratulated by Angel Genao, right, after hitting a home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Cleveland, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Brayan Rocchio dives for home plate in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Cleveland, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Brayan Rocchio, center, celebrates with teammates after hitting a game winning double in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Cleveland, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Chicago White Sox left fielder Sam Antonacci (17) can't get to the ball on a game winning double hit by Cleveland Guardians' Brayan Rocchio in the ninth inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Brayan Rocchio, right, celebrates with teammates after hitting a game winning double in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Cleveland, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)