Brewers beat Cubs 2-0, snapping Chicago’s 4-game win streak
CHICAGO (AP) — Manny Piña drove in two runs with a first-inning single and Josh Hader finished a strong performance by Milwaukee’s bullpen, helping the short-handed Brewers beat the Chicago Cubs 2-0 on Saturday.
Ben Gamel added three hits as Milwaukee pulled within four games of Chicago for the second NL wild card. Gamel was recalled from the minors before the victory.
The Brewers used five pitchers in the six-hitter. Zach Davies worked 4 2/3 innings before Matt Albers finished the fifth. Drew Pomeranz got two outs and Junior Guerra (8-4) worked 1 2/3 innings of hitless ball.
Hader then earned his 27th save, recording five outs on just 12 pitches. The All-Star left-hander struck out two.
Regulars Ryan Braun, Lorenzo Cain, Mike Moustakas and rookie Keston Hiura were out of Milwaukee’s starting lineup. Braun pinch-hit in the sixth and Cain entered in a double switch in the bottom of the eighth.
Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo had two hits in his return after missing the previous five games with mid-back tightness.
Chicago wasted a solid performance by Cole Hamels (7-5), who allowed five hits in six innings. The Cubs had won four in a row.
Gamel led off the game with a double to left. One out later, Christian Yelich and Yasmani Grandal drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Piña then singled to center.
Despite pitching a shutout, Davies was lifted before he qualified for the win. Hamels doubled with one out in the fifth and Jason Heyward followed with a lineout to first base. Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell then brought in Albers to face Nicholas Castellanos, who flied out to right to end the inning.
ROSTER MOVES
Hiura, who left Friday’s game in the sixth, was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain.
“He’s going to play again this year, but he’s going to miss some time,” Counsell said.
The Brewers also recalled Gamel and infielder Travis Shaw from Triple-A San Antonio. Right-hander Devin Williams was sent down.
ON HIS WAY
Ben Zobrist is expected to rejoin the Cubs before the series finale. The veteran utilityman has been on the restricted list since May 8 while going through a divorce.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Brewers: LF Braun (back) and CF Cain (sore left knee) both are day to day, and it’s uncertain when they might return to the starting lineup. Moustakas (left palm, wrist) likely will be out a few more days.
Cubs: C Willson Contreras (right hamstring strain) went 0 for 1 and was hit by a pitch Friday night in a rehab game with Triple-A Iowa. He was expected to play again Saturday night.
UP NEXT
Cubs right-hander Yu Darvish (5-6, 4.25 ERA) faces Brewers left-hander Gio González (2-2, 4.34 ERA) Sunday in the series finale. Darvish is coming off perhaps his best start of the season, allowing one run in eight innings in a victory over the Mets. González was roughed up by St. Louis on Monday, allowing nine runs in five innings.
