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Ramirez's walk-off blast gives Cubs seventh straight win

Jun 29, 2007 - 11:28 PM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Aramis Ramirez hit a walk-off, two-run homer to lift the Chicago Cubs to their seventh straight victory Friday, a 6-5 triumph over the Milwaukee Brewers in the opener of a three-game series.

Trailing, 5-4, with two outs in the ninth inning, Ramirez sent a first-pitch offering from Brewers closer Francisco Cordero (0-2) over the left-center field wall.

Cordero entered in the ninth with Milwaukee clinging to a 5-3 lead. After recording the first out, Alfonso Soriano and Mike Fontenot hit back-to-back singles.

"You have to beat this guy early," Ramirez said. "He has really good stuff and you can't afford to fall behind him. He can beat you with any pitch, a fastball, a slider. I was lucky to get something to hit on the first pitch."

Derrek Lee plated Soriano with a sacrifice fly before Ramirez hit his 15th home run of the season and second since returning from the disabled list on June 22. Ramirez, who is batting .304 this season, finished with three hits.

"He (Ramirez) is our cleanup hitter," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "Not only does he hit for power, he hits for average. He is a force in that lineup. When he is in there we are much better."

Bobby Howry (4-5) recorded the win after tossing a scoreless top of the ninth.

Brewers starter Yovani Gallardo continued to impress in his first major league season, surrendering just two runs, five hits and two walks while striking out seven in six innings. It was, however, the shortest of his three starts since being called up to the majors on June 18. The 21-year-old Mexican has posted a 2.79 ERA with 19 strikeouts over 19 1/3 innings thus far with Milwaukee.

"I felt fine today except for the fourth inning when I gave up the two runs," Gallardo said. "I started rushing things a little but I settled down after that."

Gallardo pitched three scoreless innings before Cliff Floyd's groundout in the fourth inning plated Lee. Ramirez scored shortly thereafter on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 5-2.

The Brewers jumped on Cubs starter Rich Hill in the first. With one out, Milwaukee loaded the bases for Bill Hall, who drove in J.J. Hardy with a single, as right fielder Cliff Floyd was unable to make the catch.

Johnny Estrada made it 2-0 with a sacrifice fly before Kevin Mench belted a three-run homer to right, capping the five-run outburst.