• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Cubs hold off late-charging Brewers

May 9, 2015 - 4:54 AM Milwaukee, WI (SportsNetwork.com) - Anthony Rizzo homered and drove in two runs as the Chicago Cubs held off a late rally for a 7-6 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in the opener of a three-game set on Friday.

Jorge Soler hit a two-run homer, Dexter Fowler and Starlin Castro each supplied solo blasts for the Cubs, who have won two of their last three games.

Starter Jason Hammel (3-1) surrendered just two runs on five hits and three walks with eight strikeouts over seven innings to improve to 6-0 in eight career starts against the Brewers.

Khris Davis went 4-for-5 with a solo shot and three RBI and Ryan Braun hit a three-run homer in the ninth for Milwaukee, which is just 5-13 at home this season.

Jimmy Nelson (1-3) was tagged with the loss after giving up four runs on five hits with a career-high 11 strikeouts over seven frames.

"Every out is important," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "If we want to win games, we have to commit to every out being important, no matter what the score is."

Rizzo brought in Fowler with an RBI single during the eighth for a 5-2 advantage, but the Brewers got the run right back after Davis hit a double to right to score Braun, who got aboard on a two-out double.

Castro opened the ninth with a blast off Brandon Kintzler. Addison Russell singled and advanced to third on multiple throwing errors. Following a Fowler walk, Kris Bryant drove Russell in with a single for a 7-3 game.

Hector Rondon came on to pitch the ninth and gave up a leadoff walk to Elian Herrera, who was erased after Jason Rogers hit into a fielder's choice. Jean Segura was issued a free pass and two batters later, Braun crushed a first- pitch fastball to deep right for a three-run shot.

Adam Lind singled and was replaced by pinch-runner Hector Gomez. Davis followed with a base hit, but Rondon struck out Gerardo Parra to help the Cubs escape with a win.

"There are a lot of things that we can do better." Chicago manager Joe Maddon said. "We have to do better and as we do you will see us beat our own personal expectations."

The Cubs wasted no time getting on the board as Fowler led off the game by stroking a 1-0 fastball to right center.

In the home half, Braun worked a two-out walk, moved to third on Lind's single and scored the tying run on Davis' grounder up the middle.

Chicago used two homers to take a 4-1 lead in the fourth. Rizzo led off the frame by crushing a fastball to right and following a Miguel Montero double, Soler hit a shot over the wall in center.

Davis cracked a solo shot in the sixth.

Game Notes

Russell extended his hitting streak to 11 games, the longest by a Cubs rookie since Mike Fontenot's 12-game run in 2007 ... Chicago improved to 12-2 when their starting pitcher produces a quality start ... Prior to the game, the Brewers selected Kintzler from Triple-A Colorado Springs ... Brewers outfielder Carlos Gomez was out of the lineup with a strained right hip.