Lester's start, Russell's homer leads Cubs over Brewers

Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Jon Lester threw seven scoreless innings, and Addison Russell hit his first major league home run in the Chicago Cubs' 1-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday.

Lester (1-2) earned his first win as a Cub after he struck out four and only allowed three hits and a walk. Pedro Strop threw a 1-2-3 eighth, and Hector Rondon recorded his fifth save.

Wily Peralta (0-4) struck out six and only allowed a run in six innings but remained winless on the season. Gerardo Parra and Jason Rogers had two hits apiece.

"We haven't won two in a row all year," said Milwaukee's Ryan Braun. "Pitchers threw the ball well, we played well defensively, but didn't have many good at- bats."

After getting three hits but no runs in their first at-bat, the Cubs got what they hope is a glimpse of the future when Russell, their star shortstop prospect, hit a Peralta fastball into the bleachers in the third inning.

"It was a great moment for him and his family, and for us," said Cubs manager Joe Maddon.

Peralta got into more trouble later in the inning. After Jorge Soler singled again, he hit Anthony Rizzo and walked Kris Bryant to load the bases. Peralta got out of the jam by inducing a ground-ball double play from Starlin Castro.

Parra singled with two outs in the fourth, but the next 15 batters were retired by Chicago pitching. After Lester departed, Strop struck out two batters, and Rondon worked around a two-out double to secure the win.

Milwaukee's best chance to score came in the second inning. With two outs and a runner on first, Parra singled to keep the inning alive and Lester walked Luis Jimenez to load the bases. This left Peralta at the plate with the bases loaded, but he struck out to end the threat.

Game Notes

Milwaukee has not won a series this season ... Brewers besides Parra and Rogers combined to hit 0-for-23 ... Soler and Castro each had two hits for the Cubs ... Russell hit 38 home runs in 244 career minor league games.