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Cubs hit three HRs, blast Brewers

Jun 17, 2011 - 12:55 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Kosuke Fukudome went 3-for-5 with a three-run home run, four RBI and three runs scored as the Chicago Cubs clobbered the Milwaukee Brewers, 12-7, in the finale of a four-game set.

Alfonso Soriano hit a two-run homer while Carlos Pena added a solo shot for the Cubs, who took three of four in the series. Matt Garza (3-6) benefited from the runs to snap a two-start losing streak as he gave up five runs on six hits with three walks and as many strikeouts over six innings.

Ryan Braun and George Kottaras each hit a two-run home run for the Brewers, who came into the series having swept the Cardinals at home.

Zack Greinke (6-2) was tagged with the loss as he gave up eight runs -- six earned -- on eight hits with two walks and 10 strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings. He had won his past four starts and hadn't dropped a game since his season debut on May 4 against Atlanta.

Neither team wasted any time getting on the board as Braun hit a two-run homer in the first inning, his 15th of the season, while Starlin Castro hit an RBI double and later scored on a passed ball to tie the game in the bottom of the first.

Kottaras hit his two-run shot in the second and Chicago went ahead with three runs in the bottom of the frame.

With men on the corners and two outs, a Greinke wild pitch scored Soriano. Fukudome then hit a triple that scored Geovany Soto and he later scored on a Rickie Weeks error off a Blake DeWitt grounder.

The third inning saw the Brewers tie things back up as a Casey McGehee double scored Braun, but Pena led off the bottom of the frame with his 10th home of the year for a 6-5 lead.

"I settled down after the third inning," Garza said. "It was a little crazy, a little nuts those first three innings."

The sixth inning saw the Cubs give themselves some breathing space. With one out and two on, Daniel Ray Herrera took the mound and promptly served up a home run ball to Fukudome to make it a 9-5 game.

Soriano's two-run blast in the seventh, his 13th on the season, made it a six- run game while Aramis Ramirez added an RBI double in the eighth for the Cubs.

Jonathan Lucroy hit a two-run single in the ninth to account for the final score.

"It was tough for me to watch that game today," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke admitted. "I didn't like the way we were pitching, we didn't field well."

Game Notes

Interleague play begins for both teams on Friday as the Cubs welcome the Yankees to Wrigley Field while the Brewers head to Boston for three games...Chicago has taken four of seven from the Brewers this season.