Brewers 4, Cubs 3
MILWAUKEE -- Logan Schafer's bases-loaded sacrifice bunt in the ninth inning drove in the winning run and gave the Milwaukee Brewers a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs Tuesday night at Miller Park.
Facing Cubs right-hander Justin Grimm (0-2), Aramis Ramirez led off the ninth with his second walk of the day. After Ramirez gave way to pinch-runner Jeff Bianchi, Carlos Gomez singled to center, and Milwaukee loaded the bases when Grimm misplayed Scooter Gennett's sac bunt.
Caleb Gindl popped out for the first out of the inning.
Schafer, pinch-hitting for Sean Halton, worked the count to 1-1 before putting down the bunt that scored Bianchi with the winning run.
Gomez's second-inning sacrifice fly scored Aramis Ramirez and gave the Brewers a 1-0 lead, but bad base running prevented the Brewers from adding runs in the sixth.
Norichika Aoki led off the sixth with a triple to right, but after Jean Segura popped out to short, Aoki was caught in a run down between third and home on Jonathan Lucroy's fielder's choice.
With Aoki trapped, Lucroy took off for second but was caught, ending the inning.
Chicago tied the score at 1-1 in the seventh. Junior Lake led off with a double and moved to second on Anthony Rizzo's grounder to second. Nate Schierholtz walked and the Cubs went ahead 3-1 on Welington Castillo's eighth home run of the season.
The Brewers got those runs back in the bottom of the inning on Gomez's two-run home run, which gave him a career-high 20 for the season.
Chicago had chances to break the deadlock, stranding runners at the corners in the eighth. Starlin Castro doubled off Jim Henderson (5-5) to open the ninth, but the Cubs went down in order after that.
Both starters were effective but didn't factor in the decision. Milwaukee's Marco Estrada allowed three runs on four hits and a walk over seven innings. The Cubs' Jeff Samardzija also went seven innings and allowed three runs on five hits and two walks with eight strikeouts.
NOTES: Cubs manager Dale Sveum said there were no issues between himself and right-hander Edwin Jackson. The two exchanged heated words in the dugout Monday when Sveum pulled Jackson for a pinch-hitter after just four innings of work. Sveum said he planned to touch base with Jackson again Tuesday but didn't anticipate any problems between the two. ... Milwaukee starters have produced 11 quality starts in 14 September games, going 6-4 with a 3.57 ERA during the month. ... Samardzija passed the 200-inning mark for the first time in his career. He finished with eight strikeouts Tuesday, giving him 200 for the season and making him the first Cubs pitcher with at least 200 strikeouts and 200 innings of work in one season since Ryan Dempster did it back in 2010. ... Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke and his coaching staff will meet with members of the team's front office and scouting departments Wednesday to begin evaluating the 2013 season. They also will hold preliminary discussions on crafting a roster for the 2014 season.
