Brewers get outhit, but win 5-2 over Chicago

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Marco Estrada got his first win in almost a year, as the Milwaukee Brewers topped the Chicago Cubs 5-to-2 at Miller Park last night. Estrada struck out nine batters in six scoreless innings, as he earned his first victory in 15 starts and 14 relief appearances dating back to August 23rd of last year. He gave up two hits and walked one, as his record improved to 1-and-5. John Axford got the final out in the ninth for his 19th save. Milwaukee was out-hit 4-to-3, but the Brewers made the most of their limited production. Cubs’ starter Chris Rusin retired his first nine batters in order before hitting Norichika Aoki with a pitch to start the fourth. And Aoki scored on a hard shot to the mound in which Corey Hart singled. The Brewers took a 5-nothing lead into the ninth on a two-run double by Jonathan Lucroy, a run-scoring single from Carlos Gomez, and a wild pitch by Cubs’ reliever Alberto Cabrera. Chicago rallied in the ninth with a run-scoring single by Alfonso Soriano and a ground-out by Starlin Castro. But Axford came in and got Welington Castillo to ground out to end the game. Rusin lost his Major League debut, giving up one run in five innings with a pair of walks and four strikeouts. Soriano had two of the Cubs’ four hits, as Chicago lost its third straight game. Milwaukee is now 9-and-3 against the Cubs this season. They’ll close out their three-game series at Miller Park this afternoon. Right-hander Yovani Gallardo will face Cubs’ southpaw Travis Wood.

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Brewers’ starters Mark Rogers and Mike Fiers will not be shut down for a while. Manager Ron Roenicke and G-M Doug Melvin discussed the possibility of ending one or both of their seasons, so they don’t wear out their arms for next year. But Roenicke says Rogers and Fiers will both keep going for two-to-three weeks and quote, “Then we’ll see where we are.” The Brewers try to limit their young pitchers to a 30-percent increase in innings from the year before – especially if they’re being considered for next year’s rotation, like Rogers and Fiers both are. Rogers has thrown 124 innings with Milwaukee and Triple-“A” Nashville this season, after having carpal tunnel surgery on both of his wrists a year ago. Fiers threw 128 innings last year, and he’s at 142 for this season. But Roenicke says he has seen no signs of fatigue with either pitcher. The skipper says he wants to avoid a similar situation next year – so he doesn’t have to shut anyone down if the Brewers are in the thick of a pennant race.

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