Cubs come out on top in wild game

MILWAUKEE - The Cubs' 7-6 victory over the Brewers Friday night was about as all-over-the-place as it gets.

How about Cubs batters striking out 15 times but hitting 4 home runs?

"Rock and roll," said manager Joe Maddon, whose team improved to 15-13.

Or there was starting pitcher Jason Hammel giving up 4 hits in the first inning and allowing only 1 run. Or maybe closer Hector Rondon coming into the ninth inning with a 7-3 lead and giving up 3 runs and stranding two was more to your liking.

"Just a weird game overall," said Hammel, who ran his own record to 3-1 with a 3.52 ERA. "Lots of walks, which is uncharacteristic. I didn't feel too good with command tonight. I'm really proud of the bullpen for grinding it out there. It had the makings for a weird game. It's nice to walk away with a win. They're not always pretty, but a win's a win."

The Cubs got a home run from Dexter Fowler to start the game. Anthony Rizzo hit a solo homer in the fourth. Miguel Montero followed with a double, and Jorge Soler crushed a 2-run homer to center field. Starlin Castro ended the home-run barrage with a leadoff shot in the ninth.

Hammel went 7 innings, but nobody in the bullpen - Zac Rosscup, Pedro Strop or Rondon - was as effective as desired.

"We really should have been able to put that one away a lot more easily," Maddon said. "We've really got to get our bullpen in order. Guys just are not pitching up to their abilities, but they will. They will."

Maddon lauds Bryant:

For the second day in a row and the second time this year, third baseman Kris Bryant batted second. He struck out three times and grounded out his first 4 times up before beating out an infield hit to shortstop in the ninth to drive in what proved to be the seventh run.

"Play of the game, Kris Bryant," Joe Maddon said. "He has been struggling at the plate, hits a routine ball to shortstop, beats it out and we score a run. How many guys do that? How many guys in baseball today do that?"

The Cubs needed a replay challenge, but Bryant never stopped running.

"That's a part of the game I can control," he said. "No matter how bad the game is going, you can always run hard and play as hard as you can. That's the way I've always played. It turned out helping the team.

"I just want the reputation of playing hard and respecting the game and respecting 90 (feet), like Joe says."

Maddon explained the rationale for hitting Bryant second.

"Hopefully he's going to get somewhat of a better pitch to work with, with Rizzo and Montero behind him," the manager said. "I think he looks fine. Again, just try to set him up. But he's been more patient than Soler has been. Give Soler a chance to drive him in now."

Russell keeps it going:

Addison Russell extended a hitting streak to 11 games with an infield single in the ninth. It's the longest streak by a Cubs rookie since Mike Fontenot hit in 12 straight in 2007.