Brewers 7, Cubs 5
Mat Gamel’s sixth-inning triple plated the go-ahead run as Milwaukee held on late to win the series opener at Wrigley Field.
Tied at 3-3 in the sixth, Chicago’s bullpen experienced more early-season woes. Reliever Shawn Camp (0-1) gave up a leadoff single to Corey Hart, and then Gamel followed with a triple to right, scoring Hart to give the Brewers a 4-3 lead. Gamel scored later in the inning on Jonathan Lucroy’s sacrifice fly to right.
Milwaukee extended its lead to 6-3 in the seventh, with Aramis Ramirez’s two-out double to center scoring Ryan Braun.
Shaun Marcum (1-0) surrendered a solo home run to Darwin Barney in the first and another to Bryan LaHair in the second, but was otherwise sharp. He allowed five hits and three runs in six innings, with six strikeouts and no walks.
Chicago starter Chris Volstad gave up five hits and three runs in five innings, including a solo home run to Rickie Weeks in the second.
Trailing 7-3 entering the ninth, Chicago mounted a late rally, scoring two runs and then loading the bases with two outs against Milwaukee closer John Axford. But Axford caught Starlin Castro looking for a strikeout, ending the game and recording his first save.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Chicago's bullpen allowed the go-ahead run to score for the third time in four games … In his return to Chicago, Ramirez finished 1-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs … The Brewers scored two runs on squeeze bunts and two more on sacrifice flies.