Chicago, IL (My Sportsbook) - Prince Fielder finished 3-for-4 with a walk, two doubles and three runs batted in, as the
Milwaukee Brewers overcame the premature exit of starter Ben Sheets to top the
Chicago Cubs, 6-2, in the middle test of a three-game series at Wrigley Field.
Corey Hart drove in two runs for the Brewers, who slammed the brakes on a five-game slide. J.J. Hardy collected three hits and knocked in a run.
Milwaukee sits a half-game back of New York in the NL wild card standings. The Mets held off the Washington Nationals, 9-7, earlier Wednesday.
Sheets left after two innings with tightness in his right forearm. The right- hander gave up a home run to Aramis Ramirez and recorded two strikeouts. Seven relievers combined to limit the Cubs to one run on five hits, with Mark DiFelice (1-0) picking up the win.
Ramirez went 2-for-3 with a walk for the Cubs, who saw their five-game winning streak come to an end. Jason Marquis (10-9) absorbed the loss after he gave up three runs on six hits and five walks in 5 1/3 innings.
"They threw a lot of different pitchers at us, and they got the job done," said Chicago manager Lou Piniella.
Chicago's magic number to clinch their second straight NL Central title remains at four.
The Brewers got out of the gate in a hurry, scoring three runs before an out had been recorded in the opening frame. Mike Cameron singled and Ray Durham and Ryan Braun drew back-to-back walks to load the bases for Fielder, who went after the first pitch and drilled a three-run double into the right-field corner.
Chicago got on the board in the second when Ramirez led off the frame by drilling his 25th home run of the season over the wall in left field.
The Brewers tacked on three insurance runs in the seventh off Angel Guzman. A hit batsman and a single by Fielder preceded an RBI double by Hardy. Hart followed with a two-run single for a 6-1 Brewers advantage.
An RBI grounder by the Cubs' Ryan Theriot in the ninth accounted for the final score.
Game Notes
Milwaukee interim manager Dale Sveum earned his first victory...The Brewers left 10 men on base, while Chicago stranded seven.
