Brewers 3, Cubs 2
Yovani Gallardo tossed seven solid innings to record his fifth straight victory and Ryan Braun belted his National League-leading 34th homer as host Milwaukee capped a three-game sweep of reeling Chicago.
Braun, who fell a single shy of the cycle, opened the scoring with an RBI double in the first inning. Corey Hart plated Braun after shattering his bat with double for the Brewers, who won for the 26th time in 38 contests at Miller Park and completed their seven-game homestand with a 5-2 mark.
Milwaukee has won five in a row and 10 of the 13 meetings between the NL Central rivals. The Cubs have dropped 18 of their last 22 overall and 15 of their previous 17 in Wisconsin.
Gallardo (13-8) overcame David DeJesus' leadoff homer by limiting Chicago to just Bryan LaHair's blast in the seventh before exiting the contest. The right-hander, who improved to 6-2 in his career versus the Cubs, fanned the side in the fifth inning and finished with nine strikeouts.
With Milwaukee nursing a 2-1 lead, Braun led off the sixth inning by depositing a fastball from Travis Wood (4-10) over the wall in center field. The reigning NL MVP has five homers in his last seven games.
LaHair answered with his 15th homer in the seventh inning before Gallardo finished the frame. Jim Henderson worked a scoreless eighth and John Axford struck out the side in the ninth for his 20th save.
Wood fell to 0-7 since the All-Star break after permitting three runs on six hits in seven innings. The loss was his first in four career decisions versus the Brewers.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Milwaukee released struggling veteran left-hander Randy Wolf (3-10, 5.69 ERA), who was celebrating his 36th birthday. The Brewers recalled INF Jeff Bianchi from Triple-A Nashville. ... Chicago closer Carlos Marmol was sporting a large bandage on his lower right leg after being spiked during Tuesday's contest. ... The Brewers will start a seven-game road trip with a three-game set in Pittsburgh, which begins on Friday. ... The Cubs will start a 10-game homestand with a three-game series against Colorado, which begins on Friday. ... WWE superstar Hornswoggle threw out the ceremonial first pitch.