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Cubs blank Brewers in series opener

Jun 14, 2011 - 4:49 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Darwin Barney scored the only run of the game on a fielder's choice and Ryan Dempster mystified Brewers hitters over seven innings as the Chicago Cubs slipped past Milwaukee, 1-0, in the opener of a four-game set at Wrigley Field.

Starlin Castro collected a pair of hits while Carlos Pena ripped a double for Chicago, which snapped a three-game skid.

Jeff Samardzija (4-2) tossed a perfect eighth in relief of Dempster to pick up the win, while Carlos Marmol mowed down the heart of the Brewers' order in the ninth to seal his 13th save of the season.

Yuniesky Betancourt and starter Randy Wolf smacked doubles for Milwaukee, which saw its three-game winning streak snapped.

Wolf certainly pitched well enough to win, going seven innings, striking out seven, only to receive a no-decision.

"I felt strong to where [one run] might have been enough, but we were obviously kept off balance and couldn't score," Wolf said.

The game remained locked at zero all the way until the eighth inning, when the Cubs finally broke through against Brewers reliever Kameron Loe (2-6).

Barney laced a one-out single to left and pinch-hitter Pena doubled to left to give the Cubs runners on second and third. Aramis Ramirez followed with a fielder's choice ground ball and Barney beat the throw home thanks to aggressive base running, giving the Cubs the only run of the game.

"[Barney] got a great jump and it was a great slide; a huge play," Cubs manager Mike Quade said.

Chicago threatened in the seventh, putting runners on first and second with one out on singles by Lou Montanez and D.J. LeMahieu. Chicago wasted the opportunity however, as Tony Campana and pinch-hitter Blake DeWitt flew out to end the inning.

Milwaukee was unable to mount any offensive threats against Dempster, as the Brewers managed only four hits and stuck out seven times. Milwaukee has been shut out six times this season.

Game Notes

Prior to Monday's game, the Cubs placed Kerry Wood on the 15-day DL and activated Jeff Baker, who started the game in right field...Entering Monday, Cubs leadoff hitters own a league-best .401 on-base percentage....Milwaukee is 13-20 on the road this season, and 8-6 in its last 14 road games... Barney leads all rookies in batting average, with a .294 mark...Milwaukee is 16-14 against Central division opponents while Chicago is just 9-21 against the Central.