GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: MILWAUKEE (66-66) at CHICAGO CUBS (67-64)

NL: MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: F Pie in center field.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 3
CHICAGO CUBS 5 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: S Linebrink (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - PITCHING CHANGE
CHN: RYAN DEMPSTER (2-4, 3.18) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 3, CHICAGO CUBS 5

DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: S LINEBRINK (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: R Dempster relieved B Howry.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 3
CHICAGO CUBS 5 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: S Linebrink (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Jones in right field.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 3
CHICAGO CUBS 5 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: S Linebrink (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: M Murton in left field.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 3
CHICAGO CUBS 5 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: S Linebrink (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Dillon hit for S Linebrink.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 3
CHICAGO CUBS 5 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: J Dillon (.405, 0 HR, 3 RBI)</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
BASES LOADED WALK TO COREY HART SCORED JOE DILLON.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, C HART ON FIRST, P FIELDER ON SECOND, R
WEEKS ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 4
CHICAGO CUBS 5 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: K MENCH (.266, 1-FOR-3, SF, 2 RBI)</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MILWAUKEE 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 7 0
CHICAGO CUBS 0 3 0 0 0 2 0 0 x 5 11 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: MIL - MANNY PARRA, CHRIS CAPUANO (4TH), SCOTT LINEBRINK (8TH) AND
DAMIAN MILLER

CHN - TED LILLY, CARLOS MARMOL (6TH), BOBBY HOWRY
(8TH), RYAN DEMPSTER (9TH) AND JASON KENDALL

HOME RUNS: MIL - RICKIE WEEKS (7) OFF TED LILLY IN THE 1ST, 0 ON

CHN - MATT MURTON (5) OFF CHRIS CAPUANO IN THE 6TH, 0 ON
ALFONSO SORIANO (19) OFF CHRIS CAPUANO IN THE 6TH, 0 ON</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MILWAUKEE 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 7 0
CHICAGO CUBS 0 3 0 0 0 2 0 0 x 5 11 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: MIL - MANNY PARRA, CHRIS CAPUANO (4TH), SCOTT LINEBRINK (8TH) AND
DAMIAN MILLER

CHN - TED LILLY, CARLOS MARMOL (6TH), BOBBY HOWRY
(8TH), RYAN DEMPSTER (9TH) AND JASON KENDALL


WP - CARLOS MARMOL (4-1)
LP - CHRIS CAPUANO (5-12)
SAVE - RYAN DEMPSTER (23)

HOME RUNS: MIL - RICKIE WEEKS (7) OFF TED LILLY IN THE 1ST, 0 ON

CHN - MATT MURTON (5) OFF CHRIS CAPUANO IN THE 6TH, 0 ON
ALFONSO SORIANO (19) OFF CHRIS CAPUANO IN THE 6TH, 0 ON


TIME: 3:05 ATT: 40,790

PROBABLES: HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ (7-12, 4.67)
CHN - SEAN MARSHALL (7-6, 4.04)

PROBABLES: PIT - TONY ARMAS (2-4, 6.93)
MIL - YOVANI GALLARDO (5-4, 4.86)</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">MILWAUKEE (4) VS CHICAGO CUBS (5) - FINAL

MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Weeks 2b 3 1 2 1 1 1 0 .234
J Hardy ss 4 1 1 0 0 0 2 .278
R Braun 3b 4 1 1 0 0 1 5 .331
P Fielder 1b 3 0 0 0 2 2 3 .281
C Hart rf-cf 3 0 0 1 2 1 4 .283
K Mench lf 4 0 1 2 0 0 5 .265
B Hall cf 2 0 0 0 1 2 1 .254
a-G Gross ph-rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238
D Miller c 4 0 1 0 0 2 3 .238
M Parra p 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .222
C Capuano p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .237
S Linebrink p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-J Dillon ph 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .421

Totals 32 4 7 4 6 11 24

a-popped out to shortstop for B Hall in the 8th; b-doubled to deep center for
S Linebrink in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - K Mench (18, T Lilly); J Dillon (2, R Dempster). HR - R Weeks (7,
1st inning off T Lilly 0 on, 0 Out). S - J Hardy. SF - K Mench. RBI - R Weeks
(22), K Mench 2 (32), C Hart (59). 2-out RBI - K Mench, C Hart. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - K Mench 2, D Miller 2, B Hall 1, C Hart 2, R Braun 1.
Team LOB - 11.

BASERUNNING: SB - R Braun 2 (13, 2nd base off C Marmol/J Kendall, 3rd base
off T Lilly/J Kendall), C Hart (21, 2nd base off T Lilly/J Kendall).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (R Weeks-P Fielder).


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 4 1 1 1 1 3 3 .293
F Pie pr-cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214
R Theriot ss 5 0 0 0 0 0 4 .282
D Lee 1b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309
A Ramirez 3b 2 1 2 0 2 0 0 .312
C Monroe rf 2 1 1 0 1 0 1 .250
C Marmol p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-M Fontenot ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .284
B Howry p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
R Dempster p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
M DeRosa 2b 4 1 1 2 0 0 4 .291
J Kendall c 3 0 2 0 1 0 0 .316
J Jones cf-rf 4 0 1 1 0 1 2 .276
T Lilly p 2 0 1 0 0 1 2 .145
M Murton rf-lf 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 .267

Totals 33 5 11 5 5 6 17

a-struck out swinging for C Marmol in the 7th.

BATTING: 2B - C Monroe (2, M Parra). HR - M Murton (5, 6th inning off C Capuano
0 on, 2 Out), A Soriano (19, 6th inning off C Capuano 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - M
DeRosa 2 (62), J Jones (50), M Murton (16), A Soriano (43). 2-out RBI - M
Murton, A Soriano. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M DeRosa 1, R
Theriot 2. GIDP - J Jones. Team LOB - 9.

BASERUNNING: CS - J Kendall (2, 2nd base by S Linebrink/D Miller).

FIELDING: E - M Murton (4, bobble).


----------------------------------------------------
MILWAUKEE - 201 000 001 -- 4
CHICAGO CUBS - 030 002 00x -- 5
----------------------------------------------------

MILWAUKEE ip h r er bb so hr era
M Parra 3 3 3 3 3 3 0 3.76
C Capuano (L, 5-12) 4 6 2 2 1 2 2 5.37
S Linebrink 1 2 0 0 1 1 0 3.99

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
T Lilly 5 5 3 3 4 6 1 3.89
C Marmol (W, 4-1) 2 1 0 0 0 5 0 1.47
B Howry (H, 17) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.66
R Dempster (S, 23) 1 1 1 1 2 0 0 3.29

WP - T Lilly, C Capuano. IBB - P Fielder (by R Dempster). HBP - R Braun (by C
Marmol); R Weeks (by R Dempster). Pitches-strikes: M Parra 59-29; C Capuano
66-41; S Linebrink 28-20; T Lilly 107-69; C Marmol 29-22; B Howry 10-7; R
Dempster 21-9. Ground balls-fly balls: M Parra 0-6; C Capuano 5-5; S Linebrink
1-0; T Lilly 1-8; C Marmol 1-0; B Howry 1-2; R Dempster 3-0. Batters faced: M
Parra 15; C Capuano 18; S Linebrink 5; T Lilly 24; C Marmol 8; B Howry 3; R
Dempster 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Paul Nauert. 2B--Rob Drake. 3B--Gerry Davis.

T--3:05. Att--40,790.
Weather: 66 degrees, clear. Wind: 11 mph, in from
left.</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
MILWAUKEE 4
CHICAGO CUBS 5 FINAL</div>

 

Murton, Soriano go back-to-back as Cubs take series with Brewers

<h3>CHICAGO CUBS 5, MILWAUKEE 4</h3>CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Carlos Marmol picked up another shakyperformance by Ted Lilly, and Matt Murton and Alfonso Sorianobelted back-to-back homers as the Chicago Cubs beat theMilwaukee Brewers, 5-4, in the rubber game of a crucialthree-game series on Thursday.


Mark DeRosa drove in two runs for the Cubs (68-64), who moved 21/2 games ahead of the Brewers (66-67) for first place in theNational League Central Division.


Marmol (4-1), who entered with a 1.47 ERA, struck out fivebatters in two scoreless innings to run his season total to 80in 57 frames.


With the game tied, 3-3, in the sixth, Murton hit a 3-2 offeringfrom Chris Capuano (5-12) over the wall in left-center fieldfor his fifth blast. Soriano followed by drilling a 1-0 pitchfrom the lefthander over the left-center field fence for his19th of the season and first since July 28.


Bobby Howry logged a perfect eighth and Ryan Dempster walkedCorey Hart with the bases loaded in the ninth before retiringRyan Theriot for his 23rd save of the season.


Lilly, whose 13 wins is the most by a Cubs lefthander since GregHibbard won 15 times in 1993, was winless in his previous threestarts after rattling off wins in eight of nine outings.

Entering 7-1 in 13 starts after Chicago losses, the lefthandergot off to a rocky start when Rickie Weeks led off the game bybelting a 1-2 offering over the center field wall for his fourthcareer leadoff blast and seventh homer of the season. It alsoextended his hitting streak to 10 games.


Kevin Mench followed shortly with a run-scoring double to leftfor a quick 2-0 lead. Mench added a sacrifice fly in the third.

Lilly lasted five innings and 107 pitches, yielding three runsand five hits.


Brewers rookie Manny Parra, making his second major leaguestart, could not hold the early edge. The lefthander lastedjust three innings due to a bruised left hand and hurt himselfby falling behind each of the first five batters he faced duringa three-run second inning.


Aramis Ramirez led off the frame with a walk before Craig Monroelined a shot to right fielder Hart, who lost the ball in thelights for a double. DeRosa followed by lining a one-hop singleto right, plating both runners to forge a 2-2 tie.

Jason Kendall walked and Jacque Jones plated DeRosa with a basehit to left-center for a 3-2 edge.


Parra was charged with three runs, three hits and three walks<div class="pre">before giving way to Capuano, who yielded two runs and six hits</div>in four innings.


It was the 17th straight time the Brewers, who have dropped sixof seven, have lost when Capuano has appeared.

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MILWAUKEE (4) AT CHICAGO CUBS (5) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MILWAUKEE 1ST: R Weeks homered to center. J Hardy singled to center.
R Braun flied out to left. P Fielder walked, J Hardy to second. C Hart flied
out to center. K Mench doubled to left, J Hardy scored, P Fielder to third.
B Hall walked. D Miller struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors)
MILWAUKEE 2, CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 2ND: A Ramirez walked. C Monroe doubled to deep right,
A Ramirez to third. M DeRosa singled to right, A Ramirez and C Monroe scored.
J Kendall walked, M DeRosa to second. J Jones singled to left center, M DeRosa
scored, J Kendall to third. T Lilly struck out looking. A Soriano struck out
swinging. R Theriot flied out to right. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 2,
CHICAGO CUBS 3.

MILWAUKEE 3RD: R Braun reached on infield single to third. P Fielder
struck out swinging. R Braun to second on wild pitch by T Lilly. C Hart
walked. R Braun stole third, C Hart stole second. K Mench hit sacrifice fly to
center, R Braun scored, C Hart to third. B Hall struck out swinging. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 3, CHICAGO CUBS 3.

CHICAGO CUBS 6TH: J Kendall flied out to right. J Jones grounded out to
second. M Murton homered to left center. A Soriano homered to left.
R Theriot flied out to center. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 3,
CHICAGO CUBS 5.

MILWAUKEE 9TH: F Pie in center field. R Dempster relieved B Howry. J Jones
in right field. M Murton in left field. J Dillon hit for S Linebrink. J Dillon
doubled to deep center. R Weeks hit by pitch. J Hardy sacrificed to third,
J Dillon to third, R Weeks to second. R Braun grounded out to third. P Fielder
intentionally walked. C Hart walked, J Dillon scored, R Weeks to third,
P Fielder to second. K Mench grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, C Hart
out at second. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 4, CHICAGO CUBS 5.</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MILWAUKEE (4) AT CHICAGO CUBS (5) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Milwaukee Starting Lineups -- R Weeks 2B, J Hardy SS, R Braun 3B, P Fielder 1B,
C Hart RF, K Mench LF, B Hall CF, D Miller C, M Parra LHP.

Chicago Cubs Starting Lineups -- A Soriano LF, R Theriot SS, D Lee 1B,
A Ramirez 3B, C Monroe RF, M DeRosa 2B, J Kendall C, J Jones CF, T Lilly LHP.

Umpires -- Brian Gorman (HP), Paul Nauert (1B), Rob Drake (2B), Gerry Davis (3B).

Gametime Weather: 66 degrees, Clear, wind in from left at 11 mph.


MILWAUKEE 1ST: R Weeks homered to center. J Hardy singled to center.
R Braun flied out to left. P Fielder walked, J Hardy to second. C Hart flied
out to center. K Mench doubled to left, J Hardy scored, P Fielder to third.
B Hall walked. D Miller struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors)
MILWAUKEE 2, CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 1ST: A Soriano struck out swinging. R Theriot flied out to
right. D Lee popped out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 2,
CHICAGO CUBS 0.

MILWAUKEE 2ND: M Parra struck out looking. R Weeks struck out swinging.
J Hardy flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 2, CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 2ND: A Ramirez walked. C Monroe doubled to deep right,
A Ramirez to third. M DeRosa singled to right, A Ramirez and C Monroe scored.
J Kendall walked, M DeRosa to second. J Jones singled to left center, M DeRosa
scored, J Kendall to third. T Lilly struck out looking. A Soriano struck out
swinging. R Theriot flied out to right. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 2,
CHICAGO CUBS 3.

MILWAUKEE 3RD: R Braun reached on infield single to third. P Fielder
struck out swinging. R Braun to second on wild pitch by T Lilly. C Hart
walked. R Braun stole third, C Hart stole second. K Mench hit sacrifice fly to
center, R Braun scored, C Hart to third. B Hall struck out swinging. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 3, CHICAGO CUBS 3.

CHICAGO CUBS 3RD: D Lee flied out to right. A Ramirez walked. C Monroe
flied out to center. M DeRosa flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
MILWAUKEE 3, CHICAGO CUBS 3.

MILWAUKEE 4TH: D Miller singled to right. M Parra bunt popped out to
first. R Weeks walked, D Miller to second. J Hardy popped out to second.
R Braun struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 3, CHICAGO CUBS 3.

CHICAGO CUBS 4TH: C Capuano relieved M Parra. J Kendall singled to center.
J Jones grounded into double play, second to first, J Kendall out at second.
T Lilly singled to right. A Soriano struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 3, CHICAGO CUBS 3.

MILWAUKEE 5TH: P Fielder grounded out to shortstop. C Hart popped out to
second. K Mench popped out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 3,
CHICAGO CUBS 3.

CHICAGO CUBS 5TH: R Theriot flied out to right. D Lee grounded out to
first. A Ramirez singled to center. A Ramirez to second on wild pitch by
C Capuano. C Monroe walked. M DeRosa grounded into fielder's choice to second,
C Monroe out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 3, CHICAGO CUBS 3.

MILWAUKEE 6TH: C Marmol relieved T Lilly. M Murton in right field. B Hall
struck out swinging. D Miller struck out looking. C Capuano struck out
swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 3, CHICAGO CUBS 3.

CHICAGO CUBS 6TH: J Kendall flied out to right. J Jones grounded out to
second. M Murton homered to left center. A Soriano homered to left.
R Theriot flied out to center. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 3,
CHICAGO CUBS 5.

MILWAUKEE 7TH: R Weeks singled to deep right, R Weeks to second on error by
right fielder M Murton. J Hardy grounded out to second, R Weeks to third.
R Braun hit by pitch. P Fielder struck out swinging. R Braun stole second.
C Hart struck out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error) MILWAUKEE 3, CHICAGO CUBS 5.

CHICAGO CUBS 7TH: D Lee flied out to center. A Ramirez singled to left.
M Fontenot hit for C Marmol. M Fontenot struck out swinging. M DeRosa flied out
to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 3, CHICAGO CUBS 5.

MILWAUKEE 8TH: B Howry relieved C Marmol. K Mench flied out to right.
G Gross hit for B Hall. G Gross popped out to shortstop. D Miller grounded out
to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 3, CHICAGO CUBS 5.

CHICAGO CUBS 8TH: C Hart in center field. G Gross in right field.
S Linebrink relieved C Capuano. J Kendall reached on infield single to shortstop.
J Jones struck out swinging. J Kendall caught stealing second, catcher to
second. M Murton singled to left. A Soriano walked, M Murton to second. F Pie
ran for A Soriano. R Theriot grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, F Pie
out at second. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 3, CHICAGO CUBS 5.

MILWAUKEE 9TH: F Pie in center field. R Dempster relieved B Howry. J Jones
in right field. M Murton in left field. J Dillon hit for S Linebrink. J Dillon
doubled to deep center. R Weeks hit by pitch. J Hardy sacrificed to third,
J Dillon to third, R Weeks to second. R Braun grounded out to third. P Fielder
intentionally walked. C Hart walked, J Dillon scored, R Weeks to third,
P Fielder to second. K Mench grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, C Hart
out at second. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 4, CHICAGO CUBS 5.</div>

 

Murton, Soriano go back-to-back as Cubs take series with Brewers

<h3>CHICAGO CUBS 5, MILWAUKEE 4</h3>CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Carlos Marmol picked up another shakyperformance by Ted Lilly, and Matt Murton and Alfonso Sorianobelted back-to-back homers as the Chicago Cubs beat theMilwaukee Brewers, 5-4, in the rubber game of a crucialthree-game series on Thursday.


Mark DeRosa drove in two runs for the Cubs (68-64), who moved 21/2 games ahead of the Brewers (66-67) for first place in theNational League Central Division.


Marmol (4-1), who entered with a 1.47 ERA, struck out fivebatters in two scoreless innings to run his season total to 80in 57 frames.


"I had three days off, so I felt extremely strong," Marmol said."I am not really happy unless I am throwing everyday. It's agood team win for us."


With the game tied, 3-3, in the sixth, Murton hit a 3-2 offeringfrom Chris Capuano (5-12) over the wall in left-center fieldfor his fifth blast. Soriano followed by drilling a 1-0 pitchfrom the lefthander over the left-center field fence for his19th of the season and first since July 28.


"I got a fastball inside," Soriano said. "They had been workingme outside and down the whole series. After getting ball one Ijust decided to sit on a fastball, I got it."


Bobby Howry logged a perfect eighth and Ryan Dempster walkedCorey Hart with the bases loaded in the ninth before retiringKevin Mench for his 23rd save of the season.


Lilly, whose 13 wins is the most by a Cubs lefthander since GregHibbard won 15 times in 1993, was winless in his previous threestarts after rattling off wins in eight of nine outings.

"I didn't have any command at all," Lilly said. "I did know thatif I could stay out there the bullpen would pick me up and theguys would have a chance to come back and win it."

Entering 7-1 in 13 starts after Chicago losses, the lefthandergot off to a rocky start when Rickie Weeks led off the game bybelting a 1-2 offering over the center field wall for his fourthcareer leadoff blast and seventh homer of the season. It alsoextended his hitting streak to 10 games.


Kevin Mench followed shortly with a run-scoring double to leftfor a quick 2-0 lead. Mench added a sacrifice fly in the third.

Lilly lasted five innings and 107 pitches, yielding three runsand five hits.


"He really didn't have too much out there tonight," Cubs managerLou Piniella said. "He did gut it out for five. Marmol and therest of the bullpen did a great job after that."


Brewers rookie Manny Parra, making his second major leaguestart, could not hold the early edge. The lefthander lastedjust three innings due to a bruised left thumb nail and hurthimself by falling behind each of the first five batters hefaced during a three-run second inning.


"I'm extremely disappointed," Parra said. "I am disappointedabout getting hurt and more disappointed, I wasn't able to throwstrikes."


Aramis Ramirez led off the frame with a walk before Craig Monroelined a shot to right fielder Hart, who lost the ball in thelights for a double. DeRosa followed by lining a one-hop singleto right, plating both runners to forge a 2-2 tie.

Jason Kendall walked and Jacque Jones plated DeRosa with a basehit to left-center for a 3-2 edge.


Parra was charged with three runs, three hits and three walksbefore giving way to Capuano, who yielded two runs and six hitsin four innings.


It was the 18th straight time the Brewers, who have dropped sixof seven, have lost when Capuano has appeared. With his 12thstraight loss, Capuano broke the club record he held with ChrisBosio in 1988.


"All I can do is stay ready for situations like today," Capuanosaid. "My attitude to battle the best I can when I am out there.I can't focus on the past, I have to take all the emotion I canout if it and try to do the job."