The Cubs have lost nine straight games at Milwaukee and Chris Volstad has yet to break into the win column this year. Chicago aims to end both of those streaks this afternoon as their three-game series resumes at Miller Park.
Last night's contest lasted over five hours. Corey Hart belted a game-tying two-run blast in the ninth and added a game-winning RBI single in the 13th inning in an 8-7 final.
Rickie Weeks and Ryan Braun were each hit by a pitch from Lendy Castillo (0-1) to start the bottom of the 13th inning before Aramis Ramirez singled into right to load the bases with no outs.
"Castillo hit the first two guys so you knew our chances weren't good after that," said Cubs manager Dale Sveum.
Hart then slapped a single up the middle for his fourth hit of the night, scoring Weeks from third to give the Brewers their ninth straight home victory over the Cubs.
Vinnie Chulk (1-0) got the victory after tossing two scoreless innings in relief. Hart and Jonathan Lucroy each knocked in three runs as Milwaukee won its second contest in three tries.
"It was an interesting ball game," said Brewers manager Ron Roenicke. "I didn't know what was going to happen. A lot of weird things."
Brewers hitters walked 14 times last night, marking the third-highest walk total in franchise history.
Milwaukee's John Axford last night had a streak of 49 consecutive saves snapped.
David DeJesus smacked a grand slam and added an RBI triple while Alfonso Soriano added two hits and an RBI, but the Cubs dropped their second in their last three.
Volstad, who had just five wins in 18 decisions in what turned out to be his final season with the Marlins, has yet to taste victory in six starts this year with Chicago and has a bulging 6.55 ERA. The righty, who has given up at least four runs in each of his last four starts, is 1-1 with a 2.30 ERA in five contests against the Brewers.
Shaun Marcum gets the start today for the Brewers. He last started on Sunday at San Francisco and received a no-decision in the Brewers' 4-3, 11-inning defeat. He has not recorded a decision over his last four starts.
Over his career, Marcum is 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA against the Cubs.
The Cubs have a couple of noteworthy batting streaks intact. First baseman Bryan LaHair has now reached base safely in 28 straight games after receiving an intentional walk in the 13th inning last night. Shortstop Starlin Castro has a 10-game hitting streak.
Milwaukee won 10 of the 16 meetings last season and took three of four in a series at Wrigley Field this year from April 9-12.
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