Cubs' streak won't reach 4
MILWAUKEE — Ryan Braun doubled in a run, former Cubs prospect Casey McGehee added a 2-run triple and the Brewers bullpen tossed 4 scoreless innings to lift Milwaukee to a 3-2 win over the Cubs on Tuesday night.
Aramis Ramirez hit a 2-run homer for the Cubs, who saw their season-best three-game winning streak snapped.
The Brewers came into play a half-game back of St. Louis and Pittsburgh for first place in the NL Central and have thrived at home — where they'll play their next nine games during a stretch of 18 straight against division opponents.
Chris Narveson (7-6) went 5 innings but needed reliever Kameron Loe to bail him out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth. John Axford tied a franchise mark with his 25th consecutive save.
The Brewers bullpen of Loe, LaTroy Hawkins, Francisco Rodriguez and Axford each pitched an inning and allowed just two baserunners as a group in the Brewers first game back at Miller Park, where they're 34-14 this year following a 5-6 road trip against NL West foes.
Rodriguez struck out two in his home debut in the eighth inning after being acquired the night of the All-Star Game from the Mets for two players to be named.
Axford matched Doug Jones' 1997 franchise record of 25 consecutive saves after working around a two-out error by second baseman Rickie Weeks in the ninth. Pinch runner Tony Campana stole second before the second-year closer struck out Blake DeWitt to end it. Axford has converted 52 of 57 opportunities since taking the closer's role from Trevor Hoffman last year.
Cubs starter Ryan Dempster (7-8) continued his string of sharp outings against Milwaukee with 7 strikeouts over 6 innings, but took a rare loss to the Brewers. Since joining the Cubs' rotation in 2008, Dempster is 11-2 with a 2.80 ERA against the Brewers.
His only problem came in the first after being staked a 2-0 lead from Ramirez's shot. Corey Hart led off with a double and scored on Braun's double with an out. Prince Fielder followed with a single to put runners on the corners. With two outs, McGehee hit a sharp liner to the right-field wall to give Milwaukee a 3-2 lead.