Soler, Lester lead Cubs to 6-1 win over Brewers
CHICAGO (AP) - Jorge Soler hit a three-run homer during a five-run first inning, Jon Lester pitched into the seventh and the Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-1 on Wednesday night for their 17th win in 20 games.
Soler's shot capped the inning after RBI singles by Ben Zobrist and Addison Russell.
Lester (13-4) got his fourth straight win, giving up one run and three hits in 6 2/3 innings while striking out seven. He hasn't lost since July 3.
Brewers starter Jimmy Nelson (6-13) walked leadoff batter Dexter Fowler then hit Kris Bryant with a pitch to begin the first.
Soler's homer on a 2-2 pitch was a convincing smash that landed just under the videoboard atop of the left-center field stands.
Nelson is 1-10 over his last 14 starts.
David Ross added a solo home run in the third inning for the Cubs, who won their third straight following a doubleheader sweep of the Brewers on Tuesday.
Carl Edwards Jr. and Travis Wood combined for 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for the Cubs.
Milwaukee rarely threatened Lester. The Brewers got a run in the sixth when Keon Broxton singled, then stole two bases before scoring on a groundout by Orlando Arcia. Milwaukee loaded the bases on two singles and a walk in the second inning, but Lester got Nelson to ground into an inning-ending force out.
The loss was the fifth in six games for the Brewers.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Brewers: OF Ryan Braun is day-to-day after crashing into a wall at Wrigley Field on Tuesday. Braun injured his left knee and ankle and was out of the lineup Wednesday. Braun and manager Craig Counsell said he might be ready to play Thursday in Chicago and is expected to play over the weekend in Seattle. ... RHP Chase Anderson, who was hit in the left quadriceps by Kris Bryant's comebacker Tuesday, said he felt much better and would play light catch and evaluate from there. Counsell said Anderson might be well enough to start in the Brewers' three-game series in Seattle.
Cubs: OF Chris Coghlan was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a right rib contusion. ... RHP Joe Smith was placed on the 15-day DL with a left hamstring strain. The sidearm reliever said he didn't feel right during his ninth-inning appearance on Tuesday, when he walked two of the three hitters he faced, and that it might be a recurrence of an injury from May.
UP NEXT:
The Cubs send RHP Jake Arrieta (14-5, 2.55) to the mound for the series finale on Thursday. RHP Zach Davies (9-5, 3.80) will pitch for the Brewers.