The homer was something new.
The first pinch-hit homer of La Stella's career tied a franchise record and carried the Chicago Cubs to a 5-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves in a matchup of NL division leaders Thursday night.
''I don't get to play much,'' said La Stella, who homered against the team he started with in the big leagues. ''I definitely appreciate the opportunities when I get them.''
Chicago stopped off at SunTrust Park for a single game before starting a regularly scheduled 10-game road trip, making up a contest that was washed out May 17.