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Greinke, Axford shine as Brewers blank Cubs

Jul 28, 2011 - 3:53 AM Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Zack Greinke pitched 6 2/3 shutout frames and John Axford set a new club record for consecutive saves, as Milwaukee's hurlers shined in a 2-0 victory over Chicago in the middle portion of a three- game series.

Greinke (8-4) scattered three hits and three walks with nine strikeouts, while Axford mowed down the Cubs in order for his 29th save of the season and 26th straight, a new club record that surpasses Doug Jones' 25 straight saves during the 1997 season.

Prince Fielder clubbed a solo home run and Casey McGehee recorded two hits for the Brewers, who continue to win at home with Greinke on the mound. The right- hander improved to 6-0 in eight home starts this season.

The Brewers moved into first place in the NL Central, a half-game ahead of St. Louis. The win didn't come without a price.

All-Star second baseman Rickie Weeks left the contest in the second inning after injuring his left ankle running to first base. He was helped off the field and taken to an area hospital for tests.

"It's a sprained ankle. We are having an MRI done on it. I talked to the doctor and he is going to take a look at the film and see where we are at. It is going to be for a while," said Brewers manager Ron Roenicke. "You win a great ball game, but get bad news. That hurts."

Weeks legged out an infield hit, appearing to twist his ankle while landing on first base. He fell to the ground and received immediate assistance.

Carlos Zambrano (7-6) was the hard-luck loser, giving up two runs on six hits with three strikeouts and two walks over 6 2/3 frames. His one big mistake came against Fielder, who took the right-hander deep for the second time this season.

"His velocity was excellent. They just got the deuce on him in the second inning," said Chicago manager Mike Quade.

Milwaukee scored the game's only runs in the second frame. Fielder crushed a homer to left before Weeks legged out an infield hit, and subsequently injured his left ankle. Pinch-runner Craig Counsell went to third on McGehee's double down the left-field line and scored on Yuniesky Betancourt's sacrifice fly.

The Cubs put runners at first and second with two outs in the fourth, but Geovany Soto was called out on strikes to end the threat. Kosuke Fukodome singled with one out in the eighth, but never moved after two lazy fly outs ended the frame.

Game Notes

Greinke won for the first time in six starts. The right-hander fared far better than he did against the Cubs on June 16, when he gave up eight runs -- six earned -- over 5 1/3 frames to take the loss...Chicago scored two runs in the first inning of Tuesday's series opener, but hasn't managed to score another in the last 17 frames...Milwaukee has won five-of-nine meetings with the Cubs this season...Zambrano had posted a 7-0 mark in his previous eight starts at Miller Park, including a 2008 no-hitter against the Astros when Houston played two games in Milwaukee due to Hurricane Ike...Fielder is the only player in the majors to start every game this season...Milwaukee shipped catcher Wil Nieves to Atlanta for cash.