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Lilly, Fukudome help Cubs push Brewers into tie for wild card

Sep 27, 2008 - 11:01 PM MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Ted Lilly carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning and Kosuke Fukudome belted a two-run homer in the ninth as the Chicago Cubs posted a 7-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday.

Daryle Ward also homered for Chicago, which will host Game One of the National League Division Series on Wednesday.

Prince Fielder and J.J. Hardy each drove in a run for the Brewers (89-72), who fell into a tie with the New York Mets (89-72) for the wild card lead with one game to play. The Mets beat Florida earlier on Saturday. If the teams are tied after Sunday, the Mets will host the Brewers in a one-game playoff on Monday.

The Brewers are in this predicament because they could not solve Lilly, who did not allow a hit until Ryan Braun led off the seventh with a double.

Lilly (17-9) did not allow a hit until Braun doubled to start the seventh. The lefthander allowed a single to Fielder and then departed in favor of Carlos Marmol, who allowed a sacrifice fly to Hardy that cut the lead to 4-1.

Milwaukee pulled to within 4-3 in the eighth, but left the bases loaded. Fukudome ripped a two-run homer the next half inning and Mike Fontenot added an RBI single in the frame for the final margin.