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Brewers complete sweep of Cubs

MILWAUKEE -- Ryan Braun hit a three-run home run and right-hander Wily Peralta worked into the seventh Sunday as the Milwaukee Brewers completed a sweep of the Chicago Cubs with a 4-2 victory at Miller Park.

Braun had just four hits in his previous 28 at-bats and struck out his first two times up Sunday before connecting on a 2-2 curveball from Scott Feldman to put Milwaukee ahead, 4-2.

He finished the day 1-for-4 with three strikeouts and was ejected by home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi for throwing his bat after striking out in the eighth inning.

Peralta earned his first victory of the season, allowing two runs on five hits with three strikeouts before giving way to John Axford with two out in the seventh. Both runs came in the third on Anthony Rizzo's sixth home run of the season. But while Peralta worked just one perfect inning, he was able to avoid jams and benefitted from a Brewers' defense that turned two double plays.

For the second straight game, unearned runs proved the difference for the Cubs, who committed two errors Sunday and six in the three-game series. Chicago led, 1-0, in the fourth when Jean Segura led off with a walk. Trying to steal second, Cubs' catcher Wellington Castro overthrew Darwin Barney, sending Segura to third.

Segura would score on Alex Gonzalez's ground out, making it 2-1 Chicago.

Errors played a factor again in the fifth. Yuniesky Betancourt led off with a double to center and after Peralta and Norichika Aoki struck out, Segura reached when the ball bounced off Feldman played a come-backer off his glove and struggled getting the throw to first. He was charged with an error, giving the Brewers an extra batter in the inning and setting the stage for Braun's home run.

Feldman was otherwise effective during his five-inning outing. The left-hander struck out six and walked three to go along with three hits and of his four runs allowed, only one - Braun's home run - was earned.

The victory was Milwaukee's seventh in a row and put the Brewers (9-8) a game above .500 for the first time since Opening Day. Chicago (5-12) has lost 11 of its last 14.

NOTES: Milwaukee has homered in six consecutive games after hitting five through the first 10. ... With two errors Sunday, the Cubs now lead the majors with 17 on the season. ... Braun has homered in three of his last four games. ... Cubs' SS Starlin Castro singled and scored in the second, extending his hitting streak to 13 games, the longest active streak in the National League. ... The Brewers bullpen threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings Sunday and has posted a 3-0 record with a 1.33 ERA and four saves in the last nine games.