Brewers score 5 in 9th to end Cubs' 3-game streak

Carlos Gomez broke a scoreless tie in the ninth inning with an RBI single and Jeff Bianchi added a two-run double to lift the Milwaukee Brewers over the Cubs 5-0 on Monday night in Wrigley Field.

The Brewers, sitting in last place in the NL Central, won for the third time in eight games and ended the Cubs' winning streak at three games.

Brewers reliever Brandon Kintzler (3-0) pitched a scoreless eighth for the victory.

Cubs reliever Pedro Strop (1-1) gave up the single to Gomez on an 0-2 pitch and Jean Segura easily scored from second to give the Brewers a 1-0 lead. With one out and the bases loaded, Bianchi gave the Brewers insurance with a double to right to score two more runs and Rickie Weeks also added a two-run double as Milwaukee batted around in the ninth.

On a cool July night, the Cubs opened an eight-game homestand with a little different look. Left fielder Alfonso Soriano and pitcher Matt Garza were both traded while the Cubs were on a 10-game road trip as team president Theo Epstein continues the rebuilding process.

In his Wrigley Field debut, left fielder Junior Lake was 2-for-4, breaking out of an 0-for-14 slump.

Neither starter factored into the decision despite strong outings.

Brewers starter Kyle Lohse pitched six innings. He pitched around five hits and three walks with six strikeouts. Lohse has only allowed one run in his last 19 innings.

Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija pitched seven innings, allowing just three hits with two walks and seven strikeouts.

Samardzija did not give up his first hit until two outs in the fifth on Caleb Gindl's single. He quickly got out of the inning by striking out Juan Francisco looking.

With runners on first and second with one out in the sixth, Samardzija knocked down Norichika Aoki's comebacker with his bare hand to retire him at first. After being checked out by a team trainer and few practice pitches to see if he could continue, Samardzija struck out Segura looking to end the inning.

Samardzija was 1-2 with a 6.85 ERA in his four previous July starts.