Dioner Navarro hit a tiebreaking single in a three-run eighth inning, and the Chicago Cubs beat Atlanta 3-1 Saturday to keep the Braves on the brink of the NL East championship.
Atlanta's magic number remained at one to clinch its first division title since 2005. Second-place Washington hosted Miami later Saturday.
Starlin Casto singled off Kris Medlen with one out in the eighth, pinch-hitter Donnie Murphy singled against Scott Downs (4-4) and Anthony Rizzo hit a tying double down the left-field line.
Navarro singled in the go-ahead run against David Carpenter, and Nate Schierholtz added a sacrifice fly.
Carlos Villanueva (7-8) relieved Travis Wood with two on and no outs in the eighth after Justin Upton doubled and Freddie Freeman walked. Villanueva induced a double-play grounder by Chris Johnson and a flyout by Evan Gattis.
Pedro Strop finished for his first save in four chances.
Atlanta went ahead in the fourth when Freeman walked and scored on Gattis' single.
Chicago Baseball
Medlen, 4-0 with an 0.98 ERA in his previous four starts, allowed one run and six hits in 7 1-3 innings. Wood gave up one run, five hits and four walks in seven innings with seven strikeouts.
