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Fiers' 14-strikeout performance lifts Brewers over Cubs

Aug 15, 2014 - 12:42 AM Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Scooter Gennett drove in two runs and Mike Fiers tossed six dominant innings as the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Chicago Cubs, 6-2, in the finale of a four-game set on Thursday.

Fiers (2-1) struck out a career-high 14 batters and allowed just three hits, a walk and no runs to win his second straight start. His 14 K's are the most ever thrown by a Brewer in a road game and second-most in franchise history. Ben Sheets fanned 18 batters for the Brewers in 2004.

"Just getting the win is awesome after losing the last two," said Fiers. "Personally, it was a great outing, a lot of strikeouts."

Khris Davis and Mark Reynolds both homered for Milwaukee, which halted a two- game skid.

Chris Valaika hit a two-run single and Anthony Rizzo had two hits for the Cubs, who struck out a combined 16 times.

Edwin Jackson (6-13) was tagged with the loss after giving up five runs on seven hits and three walks in 4 2/3 frames.

"I never felt like I got in a rhythm," said Jackson. "Either I was too low or too high."

The Brewers opened the scoring early. Jonathan Lucroy and Davis both worked two-out walks in the first and Gennett knocked them in with a double off the right-field wall.

Davis tacked on a run for Milwaukee with a solo shot to left with two outs in the third for a 3-0 score.

Lyle Overbay singled to right with one out in the fourth and hustled home after Elian Herrera tripled off the bag at first and Justin Ruggiano misplayed the ball in right. Two batters later, Carlos Gomez's liner to left plated Herrera for a 5-0 lead.

Chicago pushed across two runs in the seventh. Justin Ruggiano hit a two-out single off Zach Duke and moved to third after Welington Castillo reached as Herrera's throw sailed past first and into the seats. Valaika's grounder trickled past a diving Herrera into left field, plating both runners for a 5-2 game.

In the eighth, Reynolds crushed a changeup into the left-field seats for his 21st homer of the season to account for the final score.

Game Notes

Fiers is the first pitcher to strike out 11 Cubs batters through five innings since Zack Greinke did it with the Brewers on June 6, 2012. He is also the first Brewers pitcher ever to strike out 14 batters through six innings ... Cubs second baseman Javier Baez struck out four times ... Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro extended his hitting streak to 13 games.