Milwaukee Brewers vs Chicago Cubs Match Player Stats On Sep 08, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Sep 9, 2017

CHICAGO -- Ryan Braun's 300th career home run provided all the offense the Milwaukee Brewers needed in a 2-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs to open a three-game series on Friday night.

Braun's two-run homer with one out in the first inning helped the Brewers (73-68) pick up a game on the first-place Cubs (77-64). Milwaukee now trails Chicago by four games.

Right-handed starter Jimmy Nelson (12-6) earned up his third straight victory in a five-inning outing, allowing just four hits while walking two and striking out seven. But he abruptly left the game after five innings with right arm soreness.

Closer Corey Knebel, the last of four Brewers' pitchers, gave up one hit in a scoreless ninth inning for his 33rd save.

Cubs right-hander John Lackey (11-11) took the loss despite giving up just two earned runs on four hits while striking out nine and walking two. He threw 105 pitches in his seven-inning outing.

The game, witnessed by a crowd of 41,020, was the first Friday night game ever played at Wrigley Field during the regular season since lights were installed in 1988.

Braun clubbed his 15th homer of the season and 300th of his 11-season major league career in the opening inning. The two-run shot to center came on Lackey's 0-1 pitch and scored Eric Thames.

It was the 33rd home run Lackey has allowed this season, most in the National League.

Ben Zobrist doubled to lead off the Cubs second and reached third on a wild pitch with one out. But Chicago came up empty as Ian Happ grounded out to the pitcher and Javier Baez flew out to center.

The Cubs threatened again in the third with two out and Anthony Rizzo at first and Kris Bryant perched on third. But Nelson struck out Zobrist looking on a full count to end the inning.

Chicago also had a third two-out threat in the fifth with runners at first and third and Rizzo at the plate. But the Cubs fell short again when Rizzo sent a deep fly to the center field warning track.

NOTES: Former Georgia football coach Vince Dooley threw out the first pitch to cheers from red-clad Bulldogs fans in town for Saturday's football game at nearby Notre Dame. ... LF Ryan Braun is now the 12th active player with 300-plus career home runs and is the franchise's all-time home run leader. ... The Brewers send RHP Chase Anderson (8-3, 3.06 ERA) against Cubs LHP Mike Montgomery (5-7, 3.38 ERA) in Saturday's middle game. .... Cubs C Willson Contreras continued his rehab work on Friday as designated hitter at Class A Myrtle Beach in the Pelicans' final game of the season. He's scheduled to return to Chicago on Saturday, but there's no firm date for reactivation by the Cubs. ... Of Chicago's 21 remaining games, 13 are against teams with above .500 record and eight against below 500 clubs. Sixteen of the final games are against Central Division foes.