Brewers use long ball to defeat Cubs
CHICAGO -- Milwaukee homered for the ninth consecutive game, as three Brewers went deep in a 6-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Monday night at frigid Wrigley Field.
Behind blasts from Ryan Braun, Jett Bandy and Eric Thames, Milwaukee (8-6) increased its total to 25 home runs in 14 games and pulled ahead of the New York Mets into the National League lead in the category.
Brewers starter Chase Anderson (2-0) worked five innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits. He struck out five and walked one.
Cubs starter John Lackey (1-2) pitched six innings, allowing four runs on seven hits. He struck out two, walked one and gave up the three home runs.
The loss was the fourth straight for Chicago (6-7), while the Brewers won their second straight and sixth in seven games.
Braun, who went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, completed his day with an eighth-inning double off the wall off Cubs reliever Mike Montgomery to drive in Thames and extend the lead to 5-3. Braun then stole third and scored after a snap throw from catcher Willson Contreras sailed into left field.
Thames also went 3-for-4 with three runs, while Bandy also had three hits.
Reliever Neftali Feliz, the fifth Milwaukee pitcher of night, allowed two baserunners in the ninth but escaped without allowing a run to earn his fifth save.
The Brewers claimed a 2-0 lead in the opening inning off Lackey.
Thames doubled into the right-field corner with one out and Braun followed with a two-run home run -- his fifth of the year -- against the wind into the left-field bleachers.
The Cubs got one back in the bottom of the first as Ben Zobrist hit a two-out single into short center, scoring Kyle Schwarber from second. Schwarber had reached base with a lead-off bunt and moved to second on a passed ball.
Bandy made it 3-1 in the second with a solo home run to left on an 0-1 pitch for his second homer of the season. But Cubs center fielder Albert Almora Jr. tied the game with a one-out double to the left field corner that brought home Jason Heyward and Miguel Montero.
Thames slugged his NL-leading seventh homer of the season -- a solo shot to left in the third -- for a 4-3 Brewers lead. He tied the Brewers' record held by Jeromy Burnitz (1997) with home runs in five consecutive games.
NOTES: Brewers 1B Eric Thames improved his average to .405. He has hit safely in all 11 of his starts. ... In 140 games, Milwaukee OF Ryan Braun is a .338 hitter (180-for-533) with 31 home runs against the Cubs. ... The Brewers send RHP Jimmy Nelson (1-0, 1.38 ERA) against Cubs LHP Brett Anderson (1-0, .084 ERA) in Tuesday's middle game of the series. ... Former Cubs Jason Hammel, Jorge Soler and Travis Wood were presented with 2016 World Series rings prior to Monday's game. All three are currently with the Kansas City Royals and had an off day. ... The Cubs activated RHP Carl Edwards Jr. off the bereavement list and placed INF Tommy La Stella on the same list. La Stella was batting 1-for-4 with an RBI double and two walks over six games.