GAME THREAD: NL: MILWAUKEE (46-32) at CHICAGO CUBS (38-39)

Ramirez's walk-off blast gives Cubs seventh straight win

<h3>CHICAGO CUBS 6, MILWAUKEE 5</h3>CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Aramis Ramirez hit a walk-off, two-runhomer to lift the Chicago Cubs to their seventh straight victoryFriday, a 6-5 triumph over the Milwaukee Brewers in the openerof a three-game series.

Trailing, 5-4, with two outs in the ninth inning, Ramirez sent afirst-pitch offering from Brewers closer Francisco Cordero(0-2)over the left-center field wall.

Cordero entered in the ninth with Milwaukee clinging to a 5-3lead. After recording the first out, Alfonso Soriano and MikeFontenot hit back-to-back singles.

"You have to beat this guy early," Ramirez said. "He has reallygood stuff and you can't afford to fall behind him. He can beatyou with any pitch, a fastball, a slider. I was lucky to getsomething to hit on the first pitch."

Derrek Lee plated Soriano with a sacrifice fly before Ramirezhit his 15th home run of the season and second since returningfrom the disabled list on June 22. Ramirez, who is batting .304this season, finished with three hits.

"He (Ramirez) is our cleanup hitter," Cubs manager Lou Piniellasaid. "Not only does he hit for power, he hits for average. Heis a force in that lineup. When he is in there we are muchbetter."

Bobby Howry (4-5) recorded the win after tossing a scoreless topof the ninth.

Brewers starter Yovani Gallardo continued to impress in hisfirst major league season, surrendering just two runs, five hitsand two walks while striking out seven in six innings. It was,however, the shortest of his three starts since being called upto the majors on June 18. The 21-year-old Mexican has posted a2.79 ERA with 19 strikeouts over 19 1/3 innings thus far withMilwaukee.

"I felt fine today except for the fourth inning when I gave upthe two runs," Gallardo said. "I started rushing things alittle but I settled down after that."

Gallardo pitched three scoreless innings before Cliff Floyd'sgroundout in the fourth inning plated Lee. Ramirez scoredshortly thereafter on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 5-2.

The Brewers jumped on Cubs starter Rich Hill in the first. Withone out, Milwaukee loaded the bases for Bill Hall, who drove inJ.J. Hardy with a single, as right fielder Cliff Floyd wasunable to make the catch.

Johnny Estrada made it 2-0 with a sacrifice fly before KevinMench belted a three-run homer to right, capping the five-runoutburst.