Cubs 3 - 4 Brewers
Final/10
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Aoki's homer lifts Brewers over Cubs in 10

Jun 8, 2012 - 3:56 AM

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Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Norichika Aoki's homer in the 10th inning lifted the Milwaukee Brewers to a 4-3 win over the Chicago Cubs in the finale of a three-game series on Thursday.

Bryan LaHair's two-run pinch-hit homer in the eighth gave the Cubs a 3-2 lead.

But with two outs in the home half of the eighth, Corey Hart stroked a ground- rule double to knot the score up at 3-3. Aoki beat out an infield single then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on Hart's double.

"(Aoki) is swinging the bat well, he's confident, and he's learned a lot," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "He's been consistent against left-handers. It's pretty amazing what he does. When he goes against left-handers, I know he's going to get hits."

Aoki finished the game 3-for-5 with a pair of solo homers. Hart and George Kottaras each drove in a run for the Brewers, winners in three of five.

"My only other home run was an inside the park job," Aoki said through a translator. "I'm really happy I hit two over the fence and I still can't believe it. They don't shove shaving cream in your face in Japan. It was a good feeling."

John Axford (1-2) threw a perfect ninth and 10th to get the win.

Casey Coleman (0-1) was pegged with the loss after surrendering the homer to Aoki.

Aoki's solo homer in the fourth gave the Brewers a 1-0 lead.

Milwaukee added another run in the sixth to go up 2-0. Hart doubled then scored when Kottaras singled to right.

The Cubs cut the lead to 2-1 in the seventh. Jeff Baker walked, moved to second on an error before advancing to third when Ian Stewart grounded into a double-play. Koyie Hill followed with a double to score Baker.

In the eighth Alfonso Soriano reached on a single before LaHair cracked his 12th homer of the season.

"Same old story for the most part," said Cubs manager Dale Sveum, "Getting great starts from our starters. They're going six or seven and giving up one or two and coming away with a loss consistently."

Game Notes

The Brewers have used a different starting lineup in each of the last 21 games...Milwaukee is 4-7 in games decided in the last at-bat this season...Randy Wolf started for Milwaukee and gave up just one unearned run on four hits of 6 2/3 innings...Matt Garza started for Chicago and gave up two runs on four hits over six innings...The Cubs haven't won a series in Milwaukee since winning two of three September 10-12, 2010.






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