Field Level Media
Aug 2, 2019
Javier Baez had three hits, including a two-run homer, and drove in three runs to lift the Chicago Cubs to a 6-2 win against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers in the opener of their three-game series on Friday afternoon.
Kris Bryant had two hits and Jason Heyward homered for the Cubs, who had dropped seven of 10 coming into the series.
Chicago left-hander Jose Quintana (9-7) allowed two runs, seven hits and struck out five in six innings. For the fourth straight game, the Cubs starter did not walk a batter.
Quintana also drove in a run with a single in the three-run third.
Heyward homered to center on the third pitch of the game from Brewers starter Zach Davies, who was roughed up for the third straight time.
Davies (8-5) allowed four runs and seven hits in four innings, struck out two and walked two.
After allowing one earned run over 18 innings in his first three starts in July, Davies has allowed 17 earned runs over 13 innings in his last three outings, raising his ERA from 2.79 to 3.74.
The Brewers have lost four of five.
Ryan Braun and Mike Moustakas had two hits for Milwaukee.
Braun clubbed his fifth career homer off Quintana to tie the score at 1-1 in the second inning.
Baez turned on a 2-2 pitch that was a couple inches inside and lined his 26th home run of the season over the fence in left for a two-run lead in the third.
Chicago added another run in the inning on three consecutive singles by Willson Contreras, David Bote and Quintana to make it 4-1.
The Cubs added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings on fielder's choice ground outs to stretch the lead to 6-1.
Quintana was removed after the first two batters had base hits in the seventh to put runners on the corners.
Rowan Wick relieved Quintana and gave up a run-scoring ground out to Manny Pina before getting out of the inning without further damage.
Brewers reliever Drew Pomeranz made his Milwaukee debut after his trade from the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday and struck out Baez to start a 1-2-3 eighth inning.
--Field Level Media