Cubs 6, Brewers 3
CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs collected six runs over three early innings and ran their winning streak to five with a 6-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday.
Chicago (63-48) improved to a season-high 15 games over .500 as right-handed starter Dan Haren (8-7) picked up his first victory as a Cub in his Wrigley Field debut.
Brewers right-handed starter Taylor Jungmann (6-4) worked just 2 2/3 innings -- his shortest outing of the season -- as Milwaukee (48-66) dropped its third in four games.
Cubs left-hander James Russell pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save.
First baseman Anthony Rizzo reached base four times -- going 2-for-3 with two RBIs, was walked and also hit by a pitch -- as the Cubs picked up their 11th win in 12 games in the opener of the three-game series.
Chicago scored three runs in the second inning, one in the third and two more in the fourth to open a 6-1 lead.
Milwaukee first baseman Adam Lind's two-run homer to right with none out in the sixth brought home left fielder Khris Davis, trimming the Chicago lead to 6-3.
Haren, acquired from Miami on July 31, then struck out catcher Jonathan Lucroy, his final batter of the night. Haren worked 5 1/3 innings and gave up three runs on five hits while striking out six and walking just one.
Chicago's run of four straight games with first-inning runs came to an end after left fielder Kyle Schwarber's drive to the center-field warning track ended the frame. The Cubs, though, made up for it in the second with three runs.
Third baseman Kris Bryant doubled to right and came home on right fielder Jorge Soler's base hit up the middle. Soler scored from third on a one-out bunt by Haren after a toss from Jungmann was dropped by catcher Jonathan Lucroy. The Cubs proceeded to load the bases and center fielder Dexter Fowler's sacrifice fly to left drove in catcher Miguel Montero with the third run.
Chicago made it 4-0 in the third when second baseman Chris Coghlan walked, stole second on an overturned call and came home on Rizzo's double to center with none out.
Jungmann departed with the bases loaded and two out, and Brewers right-hander Tyler Thornburg ended the threat when Russell ground to third. Jungmann worked 2 2/3 innings and gave up four runs (two earned), five hits and three walks while striking out three.
The Brewers got one run back in the fourth as third baseman Elian Herrera doubled home Lind with two out. The Cubs replied in the bottom of the inning by loading the bases and scoring twice.
Thornburg walked RIzzo on four pitches to bring home Fowler for a 5-1 lead and with one out hit Soler with a pitch to plate Schwarber and make it 6-1. Thornburg gave up two runs, one hit, walked three and struck out two in 1 1/3 innings.
NOTES: The Brewers announced Tuesday that general manager Doug Melvin would set down after 13 years as chief baseball executive. He'll eventually serve in an advisory role. ... The Brewers take a break from a stretch with 17 of 20 games at Miller Park for the three-game Cubs series at Wrigley Field this week. ... OF Ryan Braun sat out Tuesday's game. His next home run will be the 250th of his career, one behind all-time franchise leader Robin Yount. ... RHP Jimmy Nelson's streak of 25 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run -- snapped on Sunday -- was the fifth longest in Brewers history. ... RHP and ex-Cub Matt Garza (2011-13) takes the mound for the Brewers in Tuesday's middle game against Cubs RHP Jason Hammel (6-5, 3.17 ERA). ... Chicago starting pitchers were 8-0 during an 11-game stretch between July 29-Aug. 9, the most without a loss since May 20-June 2, 2001. ... CF Dexter Fowler saw a 22-game streak of reaching base safely snapped Sunday but still had a .415 on-base percentage and .440 slugging percentage during the span.