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 For Chicago, there wasn't a long ball in sight in the opener of a
three-game series.
"It doesn't really matter as long as we win," said Cubs first
baseman Anthony Rizzo, who reached base four times and collected two
RBIs. "We just want to keep finding ways to win."
The Cubs (63-48) moved to a season-high 15 games over .500 as they
collected six runs over three early innings and ran their winning
streak to five.
Right-handed starter Dan Haren (8-7) pitched 5 1/3 innings and
earned his first victory as a Cub in his Wrigley Field debut.
He credits having former Diamondbacks and current teammate --
catcher Miguel Montero -- working behind the plate.
"It was definitely a sense of comfort for me having him back there,"
said Haren, acquired by Chicago on July 31 from Miami and making his
second start. "He called a great game and the few mistakes I made
were to (Brewers first baseman Adam) Lind.
"Overall, it definitely felt a little bit more comfortable out there
than the first time."
Cubs left-hander James Russell pitched a scoreless ninth for his
first save.
Brewers right-handed starter Taylor Jungmann (6-4) worked just 2 2/3
innings and threw 81 pitches in his shortest outing of the season as
Milwaukee (48-66) dropped its third in four games.
"I think he struggled, he got behind quite a few hitters tonight,"
said Brewers manager Craig Counsell.
"It was lower 80 pitches in the middle of the third inning, so he
struggled with his command tonight. He never could get it back and
kept falling behind hitters."
Rizzo went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, was walked and also hit by a pitch
for a major league-leading 23rd time as the Cubs picked up their
11th win in 12 games.
Chicago scored three runs in the second inning, one in the third and
two more in the fourth to open a 6-1 lead.
Lind's two-run homer to right with none out in the sixth brought
home left fielder Khris Davis, trimming the Chicago lead to 6-3.
Haren then struck out catcher Jonathan Lucroy, his final batter of
the night. Haren worked 5 1/3 innings and gave up three runs on five
hits while striking out six and walking just one.
Chicago's run of four straight games with first-inning runs came to
an end after left fielder Kyle Schwarber's drive to the center-field
warning track ended the frame. The Cubs, though, made up for it in
the second with three runs.
Third baseman Kris Bryant doubled to right and came home on right
fielder Jorge Soler's base hit up the middle. Soler scored from
third on a one-out bunt by Haren after a toss from Jungmann was
dropped by Lucroy. The Cubs proceeded to load the bases and center
fielder Dexter Fowler's sacrifice fly to left drove in Montero with
the third run.
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Chicago made it 4-0 in the third when second baseman Chris Coghlan
walked, stole second on an overturned call and came home on Rizzo's
double to center with none out.
Jungmann departed with the bases loaded and two out, and Brewers
right-hander Tyler Thornburg ended the threat when Russell ground to
third. Jungmann worked 2 2/3 innings and gave up four runs (two
earned), five hits and three walks while striking out three.
"I really have to make pitches and I didn't put myself in too many
situations to make pitches," Jungmann said. "You can't make pitches
on 2-0 counts, 3-0 counts. ... I backed myself into corner in a lot
of those situations."
The Brewers got one run back in the fourth as third baseman Elian
Herrera doubled home Lind with two out. The Cubs replied in the
bottom of the inning by loading the bases and scoring twice.
Thornburg walked Rizzo on four pitches to bring home Fowler for a
5-1 lead and with one out hit Soler with a pitch to plate Schwarber
and make it 6-1. Thornburg gave up two runs, one hit, walked three
and struck out two in 1 1/3 innings.
NOTES: The Brewers announced Tuesday that GM Doug Melvin would set
down after 13 years as chief baseball executive. He'll eventually
serve in an advisory role. ... The Brewers take a break from a
stretch with 17 of 20 games at Miller Park for the three-game Cubs
series at Wrigley Field this week. ... OF Ryan Braun sat out
Tuesday's game. His next home run will be the 250th of his career,
one behind all-time franchise leader Robin Yount. ... RHP Jimmy
Nelson's streak of 25 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run --
snapped on Sunday -- was the fifth longest in Brewers history. ...
RHP and ex-Cub Matt Garza (2011-13) takes the mound for the Brewers
in Tuesday's middle game against Cubs RHP Jason Hammel (6-5, 3.17
ERA). ... Chicago starting pitchers were 8-0 during an 11-game
stretch between July 29-Aug. 9, the most without a loss since May
20-June 2, 2001. ... CF Dexter Fowler saw a 22-game streak of
reaching base safely snapped Sunday but still had a .415 on-base
percentage and .440 slugging percentage during the span.
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