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New Cub clubbed: Brewers ruin Maholm's Chicago debut

Apr 11, 2012 - 6:34 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Alex Gonzalez clubbed a three-run homer to highlight a five-run first inning, and the Milwaukee Brewers went on to post a 7-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs at a frigid Wrigley Field.

Jonathan Lucroy hit a solo home run and added an RBI single for the Brewers, who have opened this four-game set with consecutive wins.

Milwaukee's Chris Narveson (1-0) gave up three runs -- two earned -- on six hits in five innings of work.

"[Narveson] did a nice job of battling," said Brewers manager Ron Roenicke.

Alfonso Soriano went 2-for-4 and knocked in two runs for Chicago.

Paul Maholm (0-1) struggled in his Cubs debut, surrendering six runs on six hits over four frames. The left-hander joined Chicago after a seven-year stint with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Brewers set the tone during their first turn at the plate.

Rickie Weeks walked to leadoff the game and Carlos Gomez followed with a double. A sacrifice fly by Ryan Braun opened the scoring.

Gomez moved to third on Braun's fly ball to center field, then beat Chicago first baseman Jeff Baker's throw home. Former Cub Aramis Ramirez reached on the fielder's choice and Maholm hit Corey Hart with a pitch before Gonzalez launched a home run to left field.

"[Maholm] couldn't get the ball inside for strikes. Just snowballed a little bit in that first inning," said Cubs manager Dale Sveum.

Lucroy went deep in the top of the third, but Chicago halved its deficit in the bottom of the inning.

David DeJesus and Darwin Barney hit back-to-back one-out singles, and Starlin Castro walked to load the bases for Soriano, who plated a pair with a base hit up the middle.

The bases were loaded again when Gonzalez misplayed a ground ball off the bat of Ian Stewart. Baker closed the gap to 6-3 with a sac fly.

Lucroy singled home Ramirez in the seventh to push Milwaukee's lead to four.

Brewers reliever Jose Veras gave up a leadoff home run to Geovany Soto in the ninth. A one-out walk prompted Roenicke to summon Francisco Rodriguez from the bullpen.

Rodriguez retired both batters he faced to notch his first save of the season.

Game Notes

Maholm threw 41 pitches in the first inning, 20 for strikes...Milwaukee finished 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 men on base...DeJesus had two hits and drew a walk.