• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Brewers sweep Cubs

Jul 28, 2011 - 11:12 PM Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Ryan Braun hit a solo homer and drove in two runs, as the Milwaukee Brewers held off the Chicago Cubs, 4-2, to complete a three-game sweep.

Braun went 3-for-4 with two runs scored for the Brewers, who swept Chicago for the first time since taking all three games of a series on May 3-5, 2005 at home.

Yuniesky Betancourt and Casey McGehee each added an RBI for Milwaukee, which placed All-Star second baseman Rickie Weeks on the 15-day disabled list with a severely sprained left ankle on Thursday.

Shaun Marcum (10-3) gave up two runs on seven hits over six innings to pick up the win. He struck out four and walked one.

Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano had an RBI apiece for the Cubs, who have dropped three straight since a three-game winning streak.

Chicago starter Randy Wells (2-4) allowed four runs on eight hits over six full frames to suffer the loss.

"The series was all about our lack of offense," Cubs manager Mike Quade said. "We have to get hits with runners in scoring position."

The Cubs jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. Tony Campana led off with an infield single, moved to second on Marcum's throwing error, stole third and scored on Ramirez's sacrifice fly to right.

Milwaukee promptly responded with two runs in the home first to take the lead. With one out, Nyjer Morgan and Braun singled, and Prince Fielder walked to load the bases. McGehee's sacrifice fly and Betancourt's RBI double made it a 2-1 game. Fielder also tried to score on Betancourt's hit to left but was thrown out at the plate.

"Coming back to score in the first was huge," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "That put a little damper on the other side."

Braun's solo homer to right in the third increased the Brewers' lead.

Milwaukee tacked on another run in the fifth. Morgan hit a one-out single and scored on Braun's double to center for a 4-1 lead.

Chicago got a run back in the sixth. Carlos Pena led off with a double and crossed the plate on Soriano's two-out double.

LaTroy Hawkins and Francisco Rodriguez each tossed a scoreless inning of relief. John Axford pitched a perfect ninth to pick up his 30th save of the season.

Game Notes

Milwaukee owns a 6-4 edge in the season series with the Cubs...Weeks was hurt during Wednesday's game against the Cubs while legging out an infield hit. Milwaukee recalled infielder Eric Farris from Triple-A Nashville to fill the vacant roster spot...Chicago shipped outfielder Kosuke Fukudome to the Cleveland Indians for a pair of minor leaguers Thursday. The Cubs also recalled outfielder Tyler Colvin from Triple-A Iowa.