Final
Cubs-Brewers Preview
Aug 2, 2015 - 4:36 AM Anthony Rizzo is helping the surging Chicago Cubs win ballgames, and that's all he seems to care about.He'll look to continue his offensive roll Sunday when the visiting Cubs try to complete a four-game sweep of the lowly Milwaukee Brewers.
Rizzo homered in a career-high fourth consecutive game Saturday with a three-run shot that keyed Chicago's fourth straight victory, 4-2 over Milwaukee. Before this stretch, during which he's gone 8 for 15 with four home runs and nine RBIs, Rizzo batted .118 during the Cubs' 3-6 slump and had gone 17 games without homering.
"He's really on a roll and it's fun to watch," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.
Rizzo has a chance to join Sammy Sosa (1998), Ryne Sandberg (1989) and Hack Wilson (1928) as the only Cubs since 1914 to homer in five consecutive games. However, his main concern is helping Chicago (56-47) win for the sixth time in seven games and record its first four-game sweep at Milwaukee (44-61) since July 28-31, 2008.
The Cubs are one game behind San Francisco for the final NL wild-card spot.
"I'm feeling really good right now," said Rizzo, who has hit at least 20 home runs in three straight seasons. "But the most important thing is we got another win."
Rizzo is batting .446 with eight home runs and 19 RBIs during a 15-game hitting streak against Milwaukee. He's hit .458 (11 for 24) with two doubles and a homer against Kyle Lohse (5-12, 6.24 ERA), who tries to avoid becoming the majors' first 13-game loser.
Though the 6 2-3 innings Lohse completed Monday were the most he's logged in his last 13 starts, the right-hander allowed four runs and walked three in a 4-2 loss at San Francisco.
He's yielded 14 homers in his last 12 starts, going 2-8. That doesn't include giving up Kris Bryant's first career homer - a three-run shot - and one other run in five innings of a 12-4 victory over the Cubs on May 9. It was Lohse's third win in his last four starts against Chicago.
Lohse, though, can't rely on getting much support from a Brewers club that's dropped nine of 11 and has scored two or fewer runs in eight of the last nine.
"We're just not swinging the bats well enough," said manager Craig Counsell, whose team has totaled five runs during a four-game skid.
With Aramis Ramirez, Carlos Gomez and Gerardo Parra all traded, Ryan Braun is left to pick up the offensive slack but is batting .182 with three homers and 13 strikeouts in his last 10 games.
After being held to five hits Saturday, the Brewers look to salvage something against Clayton Richard (1-0, 5.40).
With recently acquired Dan Haren not yet available, Richard was recalled from Triple-A Iowa to make his first appearance since July 20 when he allowed three runs and two solo homers in 5 2-3 innings of a 5-4 loss to Cincinnati. This will be his third start with the Cubs since being acquired from Pittsburgh.
The left-hander is 2-3 with a 5.97 ERA in seven starts against the Brewers but last faced them in 2013. Jonathan Lucroy is 4 for 7 with two doubles and a homer against him.
- CHICAGO: 4
MILWAUKEE: 3
Final
Aug 2 5:23 PM - H.Perez singled to left, E.Herrera scored, S.Peterson to second.
Cubs 4, Brewers 3 Bot 9, 2 OutsAug 2 5:21 PM - Hernan Perez singles to left field. Shane Peterson to second. Elian Herrera scores.
Cubs 4, Brewers 3 Bot 9, 2 OutsAug 2 5:21 PM - E.Herrera grounded into fielder's choice, second baseman A.Russell to shortstop S.Castro, Braun scored, E.Herrera to first, Lind out.
Cubs 4, Brewers 2 Bot 9, 2 OutsAug 2 5:18 PM - Elian Herrera reaches on a fielder's choice to second base. Adam Lind out at second. Ryan Braun scores.
Cubs 4, Brewers 2 Bot 9, 1 OutAug 2 5:18 PM - Bryant singled to center, Schwarber scored, Coghlan to third.
Cubs 4, Brewers 1 Top 5, 1 OutAug 2 3:45 PM - Kris Bryant singles to center field, advances to 2nd. Chris Coghlan to third. Kyle Schwarber scores.
Cubs 4, Brewers 1 Top 5, 1 OutAug 2 3:45 PM - Clayton Richard doubles to left field. Jorge Soler scores.
Cubs 3, Brewers 1 Top 4, 1 OutAug 2 3:24 PM - H.Perez grounded out, shortstop S.Castro to first baseman Rizzo, E.Herrera scored.
Cubs 2, Brewers 1 Bot 2, 2 OutsAug 2 2:51 PM - Hernan Perez grounds out to shortstop, Starlin Castro to Anthony Rizzo. Elian Herrera scores.
Cubs 2, Brewers 1 Bot 2, 1 OutAug 2 2:50 PM - Rizzo grounded into fielder's choice, second baseman E.Herrera to shortstop Segura, Fowler scored, Rizzo to first, Schwarber out.
Cubs 1, Brewers 0 Top 1, 2 OutsAug 2 2:20 PM - Anthony Rizzo reaches on a fielder's choice to second base. Kyle Schwarber out at second. Dexter Fowler scores.
Cubs 1, Brewers 0 Top 1, 1 OutAug 2 2:20 PM - Dexter Fowler singles to right field.
Aug 2 2:11 PM - CHICAGO: 0
MILWAUKEE: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Aug 2 2:10 PM
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