Hammel helps Cubs complete doubleheader sweep of Brewers
CHICAGO -- Jason Hammel allowed two hits over seven innings while Kris Bryant reached base three times, including a game-winning RBI single, as the Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-1 on Tuesday to complete a doubleheader sweep.
The Cubs (75-43) also claimed a 4-0 victory over the Brewers in the opener of Tuesday's day-night twin bill.
The Brewers (52-66) lost two starters as they dropped 23 games behind the Cubs in the National League Central. Starting pitcher Chase Anderson and left fielder Ryan Braun both departed the second game with left leg injuries.
Hammel (13-5), who has not lost since July 1, carefully protected a 1-0 lead until the Cubs exploded for three runs in the sixth.
Willson Contreras singled home Ben Zobrist with the game's second run and Javier Baez clubbed his 13th homer of the season off Brewers reliever Rob Scahill, driving home Contreras for a 4-0 advantage with none out.
Hammel struck out seven and walked three over seven innings while throwing a season-high 110 pitches as he extended a personal winning streak to six games.
Brewers third baseman Hernan Perez hit a solo home run with two outs in the ninth off Cubs reliever Travis Wood to end the shutout.
Chris Carter followed with a single, leaving it up to Aroldis Chapman to try to lock down the decision.
He walked pinch hitter Jake Elmore to put Brewers runners at first and second, and Keon Broxton reached on an infield hit to load the bases for Martin Maldonado.
Chapman struck out Maldonado looking for his sixth save s a Cub and second of the day.
Milwaukee lost two starters in the first four innings after mishaps.
Anderson left with two outs in the first inning when he was struck by a Bryant liner. Anderson picked up the ball and threw to first for an out but appeared in pain as he walked away from the mound.
Anderson attempted one pitch and departed, tentatively diagnosed with having a left quadriceps contusion. He was replaced by right-hander Jhan Marinez.
Braun left with none out in the fourth when he injured his left knee after hitting the wall along the left-field line while chasing Zobrist's foul fly ball. He was replaced by Ramon Flores.
In between Milwaukee injuries, Bryant's two-out RBI single to left in the third inning drove in David Ross from second to open a 1-0 lead.
The Cubs loaded the bases with one out in the fourth, leading to Marinez's departure after working 2 2/3 innings. But replacement right-hander Blaine Boyer got Ross to hit into an inning-ending double play to erase the threat.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon challenged a fifth-inning call as Matt Szczur was originally called out at home on a Maldonado tag after he raced from second following Anthony Rizzo's base hit. The call was upheld.
In Tuesday's opener, right-hander Trevor Cahill tossed five shutout innings and earned a win in his first major league start since April 2015 in a 4-0 victory. Cahill (2-3) came off the disabled list for the spot star, allowing just two hits while striking out three and walking a pair.
Chapman faced two batters in the ninth to earn his fifth Cubs save and 25th of the season. Brewers starter Matt Garza (4-5) also worked five innings and had a three-game winning streak snapped.
NOTES: Tuesday's doubleheader marked Milwaukee's first trip to Chicago since an April 26-28 series, a two-game Cubs' sweep. ... The teams are 3-3 at Miller Park. ... The Brewers placed RHP Michael Blazek (right forearm strain) on the 15-day disabled list, recalled RHP Damien Magnifico from Triple-A Colorado Springs and called up RHP Tyler Cravy from Colorado Springs as 26th man for the twin bill. ... The Brewers send RHP Jimmy Nelson (6-12, 4.07 ERA) against Cubs LHP Jon Lester (12-4, 2.93 ERA) in Wednesday's game. ... Cubs RHP Trevor Cahill's Game 1 start was his first since April 26, 2015, with the Atlanta Braves against the Philadelphia Phillies, a 5-4 setback. He was the eighth starting pitcher used by Chicago this season. ... The Cubs' 10-0 start to August was only the second time they've started a month in that fashion since June 1885 when Chicago opened June 18-0 and finished 21-2. ... Entering Tuesday, Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo had 16 game-winning RBIs, tied with Washington's Daniel Murphy for most in the majors.