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Gwynn's sacrifice fly lifts Brewers over Cubs

Apr 1, 2008 - 2:48 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- In the first battle of the season, the Milwaukee Brewers struck the first blow for National League Central Division supremacy.

Tony Gwynn Jr. hit a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning to lift the Brewers to a 4-3 win over the Chicago Cubs on Monday.

David Riske picked up the save, tossing a scoreless 10th inning to give the Brewers an early leg up in what should be a season-long fight atop the NL Central.

Milwaukee held the lead for much of the season in 2007 before the Cubs caught and passed them in August. If the 2008 season follows along the lines of Opening Day, the race should be just as exciting this year.

Veteran Craig Counsell set up the rally in the 10th with a pinch-hit leadoff double. After Jason Kendall sacrificed, Chicago reliever Bob Howry (0-1) plunked Rickie Weeks before yielding Gwynn's fly to deep center field.

"The infield was in, so at that point I'm not trying to do much," Gwynn said. "Howry elevated a pitch I could put the bat on. I was fortunate to hit it far enough to get the run in. It's a great Opening Day win for us. Getting it against the Cubs is a confidence-builder."

"Counsell got a big hit for us, as big as they come," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "But the situation hitting by Tony Gwynn was just as important with his sacrifice fly getting the run home."

Cubs rookie Kosuke Fukudome made his U.S. debut to much fanfare and did not disappoint - clubbing a three-run homer off Eric Gagne in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game at 3-3. The Japanese star finished 3-for-3 with a walk in his first major league game, earning a curtain call from the fans after his blast.

"He was unbelievable today," Chicago first baseman Derrek Lee said of Fukudome. "I don't know if he was hiding anything in spring training. He showed what a great hitter he is with the exhibition he put on today. It was impressive."

The Brewers took a 3-0 lead in the top of the ninth on an RBI single by Ryan Braun and Corey Hart's two-run double off Chicago closer Kerry Wood.

"Obviously you don't want to get guys on base late in the game by walks or giving them a free pass," Wood said. "It didn't work out for me today. It's a long season."

The late-game fireworks obscured a pitcher's duel between starters Ben Sheets and Carlos Zambrano, who matched scoreless frames into the seventh inning.

Zambrano allowed three hits in 6 2/3 frames while striking out five and issuing one walk. The burly righthander was lifted after picking Bill Hall off second base due to a cramp in his right forearm.

"I felt good out there today," Zambrano said. "The cramping was just something I couldn't anything about. Next time I'll have to drink more water."

Sheets surrendered just two hits while striking out seven and walking two in 6 1/3 innings.

"I located the ball well and I think I made some quality pitches all day," Sheets said. "The only time I got into trouble was when I shook Jason (Kendall) off. I shouldn't have done that."

The only Chicago player to touch Sheets was Fukudome, who earned both hits and drew a walk against the Brewers' ace.

The Opening Day ceremonies at Wrigley Field included the unveiling of a statue honoring Cubs legend Ernie Banks at the corner of Clark and Addison outside the stadium.

A Hall of Famer, Banks stuck around for the game and joined the fans for the singing of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh inning stretch.

The first member of the Chicago franchise ever to have his number retired, Banks joins former broadcaster Harry Carey as the only men immortalized in bronze at Wrigley Field.