Lucroy's 2 homers lead Brewers over Cubs 9-5

[August 21, 2012]  MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Jonathan Lucroy hit two home runs and the Milwaukee Brewers scored eight runs in the fifth inning Monday night to rally for a 9-5 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

The Brewers sent 11 batters to the plate and recorded seven hits in the game-turning inning. The eight runs scored were the most in an inning for Milwaukee since the Brewers scored nine runs in the second inning of an 11-6 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 5, 2010.

The rally gave Mark Rogers (1-1) his first major league victory in seven career starts, including five this season. Rogers pitched five innings, giving up five hits and three earned runs while recording seven strikeouts. He walked three.

Justin Germano (2-3) took the loss for the Cubs, giving up eight hits and seven earned runs in 4 2-3 innings in his fifth start for Chicago after being acquired from Boston on July 19 for cash. He walked one and struck out three.

The Brewers' outburst started when Carlos Gomez singled and moved to second on Jean Segura's groundout. Gomez scored on a single by Travis Ishikawa, who pinch-hit for Rogers. Ishikawa advanced to third as the throw got away from catcher Wellington Castillo and scored on Norichika Aoki's sacrifice fly.

Rickie Weeks and Ryan Braun followed with consecutive singles and Aramis Ramirez was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Corey Hart blooped a single into right field, driving in Weeks and Braun and chasing Germano. Lucroy then hit a three-run home run off reliever Jeff Beliveau. Two pitches later, Gomez followed with a solo shot off Beliveau. Segura then had his second groundout of the inning.

The win for Rogers came after Brewers manager Ron Roenicke indicated before Monday's game that Rogers soon may be shut down for the season due to him nearing his innings limit. Rogers entered the game having thrown 119 innings in 2012 between Milwaukee and Triple-A Nashville.

The Cubs scored in the first inning when David DeJesus led off with a double, stole third and scored on a ground-rule double by Anthony Rizzo. Chicago added a run in the second when Castillo hit a lead-off double and, after walks to Brett Jackson and Darwin Barney, scored on a sacrifice fly by DeJesus.

The Brewers cut into the lead in the second when Lucroy hit a solo homer that glanced off the top of the left field wall.

Josh Vitters, the Cubs' 22-year-old third baseman, hit his first career home run in the fifth, extending the Cubs lead to 3-1. Vitters, a first-round draft pick of the Cubs and third selection overall in 2007 draft, entered Monday's game hitting .091. He made his major league debut on Aug. 5.

The Cubs added a run in the seventh when Barney led off with a double and scored on a groundout and added another in the ninth when Castillo scored on a wild pitch.

NOTES: After being given the day off Sunday, Brewers regulars Ramirez, Hart and Aoki returned to the starting lineup Monday night. ... Although there was no sign of rain at the start of Monday night's game at Miller Park, the retractable roof and panels were closed. A 7-minute in-game rain delay occurred on Sunday when an unexpected shower popped up with the roof open. ... Cubs OF Alfonso Soriano is the only major league left fielder to have handled at least 150 chances without an error this season. ... LHP Chris Rusin, a fourth-round draft pick of the Cubs in 2009, will make his major league debut on Tuesday against the Brewers, the team said. A corresponding roster move will be announced then. RHP Alex Hinshaw, claimed off waivers from San Diego, is also expected to join the Cubs on Tuesday.

[Associated Press]

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