Field Level Media
Sep 4, 2018
Jonathan Schoop drove in three runs, Jesus Aguilar and Christian Yelich drove in two runs apiece, and the host Milwaukee Brewers pulled away for an 11-1 win over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night at Miller Park.
Milwaukee moved within three games of the Cubs for first place in the National League Central with one game to go in the series. The Brewers have won 40 of their past 60 home games but will travel to Chicago for a series beginning next Monday.
Willson Contreras drove in Chicago's lone run as the Cubs lost for only the fourth time in their past 14 games.
Brewers starter Wade Miley (3-2) kept the Cubs off balance with a consistent fastball and a vexing breaking ball. He gave up one run on three hits in six innings, walking none and striking out five.
Cubs starter Mike Montgomery (4-5) gave up two runs in four innings. He allowed three hits, walked three and struck out five.
The Cubs grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second inning. David Bote doubled to right field and advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Ben Zobrist. Bote scored one batter later on a dribbler that shortstop Orlando Arcia could not corral.
The Brewers quickly took control for the rest of the game.
Milwaukee evened the score at 1 in the bottom of the second. Montgomery loaded the bases with on a hit, a walk and a hit batsman before firing a two-out wild pitch that allowed Ryan Braun to score from third base.
Two innings later, Milwaukee made it 2-1 when Erik Kratz hit a sacrifice fly to right field to drive in Hernan Perez. Kratz, a 38-year-old backup catcher, marked his third season with at least 20 RBIs.
The Brewers increased their lead to 3-1 in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Aguilar.
Sloppy play by the Cubs allowed Milwaukee to add three runs in the sixth to pull ahead 6-1.
Shortstop Addison Russell opened the inning with a fielding error and allowed a run to score three batters later with a throw off the mark that deflected off the glove of first baseman Victor Caratini (though Caratini was charged with the error). Soon after, a passed ball by Contreras allowed a second run. Reliever Dillon Maples then plunked Aguilar with the bases loaded.
Milwaukee broke it open with three runs in the seventh and two runs in the eighth.
Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo left after fouling a ball off his foot. The team said X-rays were negative.
--Field Level Media