Cubs 5, Brewers 2
MILWAUKEE -- Anthony Rizzo's three-run homer in the eighth inning powered the Chicago Cubs to a 5-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday night at Miller Park.
Rizzo accounted for the only two hits allowed by Brewers right-hander Jimmy Nelson, who struck out eight in seven shutout innings.
But Milwaukee's bullpen couldn't protect a 2-0 lead in the eighth.
Cubs second baseman Addison Russell and center fielder Dexter Fowler opened the inning with singles against right-hander Jeremy Jeffress. Left-hander Will Smith (4-2) was brought on to face a trio of left-handed batters and got the first out by striking out left fielder Kyle Schwarber but missed his mark on a 94 mph fastball to Rizzo, who slammed it to right-center field for his 18th homer of the year.
Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant, who struck out as a pinch-hitter against Nelson with two on in the seventh, added an insurance run in the ninth with a sacrifice fly to right.
Chicago made it a three-run game with RBI singles by Fowler and Schwarber before Brewers right-hander Michael Blazek got out of the inning.
Right-hander Jake Arrieta went six innings for Chicago, allowing two runs, five hits and three walks while striking out six.
Right-handers Rafael Soriano (2-0), Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon kept the Brewers off the board for the final three innings, with Rondon throwing a scoreless ninth for his 14th save of the year.
Milwaukee struck first against Arrieta to take a 1-0 lead on an RBI double by catcher Jonathan Lucroy, who scored on a single by right fielder Ryan Braun.
Brewers manager Craig Counsell had to adjust his lineup at the last minute, moving Gerardo Parra to center and adding Khris Davis in left after center fielder Carlos Gomez was dealt to the Houston Astros just before game time.
NOTES: Less than 24 hours after a deal to ship OF Carlos Gomez to the New York Mets fell apart, the Brewers traded Gomez and RHP Mike Fiers to the Houston Astros for minor league OFs Brett Phillips and Domingo Santana, LHP Josh Hader and RHP Adrian Houser just before Thursday night's game against the Cubs. Gomez is batting .262 this season with eight home runs and 43 RBIs. Fiers is 5-9 with a 3.89 ERA in 21 starts. ... Cubs 3B Kris Bryant was out of the starting lineup. Manager Joe Maddon said it was a day of rest for the rookie, who is 0-for-6 with two strikeouts against Brewers starter Jimmy Nelson this year. ... Maddon said C Miguel Montero is improving but likely to go on a rehab assignment before the Cubs bring him off the disabled list. Montero has been sidelined since July 12 with a sprained left thumb.