Chicago, IL – The Brewers found yet another way to beat the Cubs, this time scoring twice in an error-filled seventh inning to earn a 3-1 victory over their NL Central rivals.
Jean Segura singled in the go-ahead run in the seventh and scored on a pair of errors to help Milwaukee upend Chicago for the eighth straight time, including the first three in this four-game set.
Mike Fiers (8-6) threw 7 1/3 solid innings to notch the victory, as he allowed just one run on four hits and one walk while fanning six.
"I was throwing everything for strikes and keeping everything down in the zone," Fiers said.
Jeff Samardzija (8-12) was the hard-luck loser, surrendering three runs -- two earned -- on seven hits. The right-hander struck out 10 and did not issue a walk over seven frames.
Each team scored on a groundout early on, as Aramis Ramirez scored Norichika Aoki in the away first and Darwin Barney plated Bryan LaHair in the second.
The Brewers broke the tie in a seventh inning that featured three errors and a wild pitch.
Nyjer Morgan started the theatrics by bunting his way on with one out. Samardzija fielded the ball and rushed his throw to first, resulting in an errant toss and Morgan winding up on second.
A wild pitch moved Morgan to third and Segura lined up base hit up the middle to put the visitors in front, 2-1.
After Samardzija struck out Fiers, Segura stole second and ran to third when Welington Castillo's throw got away. Barney recovered the ball and threw to third in time to get Segura, but Luis Valbuena took his eye off it and the ball rolled towards the dugout.
Segura raced home and scored without a play at the plate.
"We threw the ball away three times within about three minutes," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said.
Manny Parra relieved Fiers with one on in the eighth and promptly induced an inning-ending double-play ball off the bat of David DeJesus.
John Axford stranded a runner on third in the ninth to pick up his 22nd save of the season. LaHair groundout out weakly to end the game.
Game Notes
The Cubs struck out seven times, ending a string of eight straight 10-plus strikeout games by Brewers pitchers. It was the longest such streak in the majors since 1900 ... Barney was first credited with an error in the seventh before it was changed to Valbuena's. The reversal gave Barney a single-season NL record of 114 straight errorless games at second base ... The Brewers have won 20 of the last 25 meetings against the Cubs ... In the season's series finale on Thursday, Milwaukee's Shaun Marcum goes up against Brooks Raley.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.