Cubs snap run of futility in Brewers’ park
For the first time in more than a year, the Chicago Cubs finally won a game in Milwaukee.
Ian Stewart hit a solo homer and scored the go-ahead run on an error, helping the Cubs beat the Brewers 8-2 Sunday to avoid a three-game sweep by their division rivals.
The win snapped the Cubs’ 10-game losing streak at Miller Park dating to last April.
“They’ve kind of had our number here,” Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija said.
It was the fourth homer of the season for Stewart, who was hitless in his previous four games. Reed Johnson added a pinch-hit home run in the sixth for Chicago.
Samardzija was lifted after throwing 91 pitches in five innings. He gave up only one run on three hits and two walks.
The converted reliever had won two straight coming into Sunday’s game.
Braves 7, Cardinals 4: Jason Heyward ended a 10-pitch at-bat with a bases-clearing double in third inning, helping the Braves give rookie Lance Lynn (6-1) his first loss and beat the Cardinals to complete a three-game sweep in St. Louis.
Tommy Hanson (4-3) allowed one run in five innings with a season-high nine strikeouts and Martin Prado, Freddie Freeman and Dan Uggla each had an RBI in a three-run seventh. The Braves had lost seven in a row in St. Louis before Friday and swept the Cardinals for the first time since Sept. 11-13, 2009, also in St. Louis.
All seven of Atlanta’s runs came with two outs.
Royals 9, White Sox 1: Jeff Francoeur hit his first homer of the season and pinch-hitter Johnny Giavotella had a two-run double to lead Kansas City to a win in Chicago.
Alcides Escobar went 3 for 3 with two walks for Kansas City, which broke it open with six runs in the ninth inning. Francoeur also had an RBI single and made a nice play in right field.
Starter Danny Duffy recorded two outs before he trudged off the mound following a short discussion with manager Ned Yost and a trainer. Luis Mendoza (2-2) came in and pitched 5 2-3 innings, allowing one run and seven hits with four strikeouts and two walks.
Phil Humber pitched four-hit ball into the seventh. Matt Thornton (1-3) took the loss.