BREWERS 101

The Milwaukee Brewers continued their mastery over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field as they defeated the Cubs 4-1 behind a three run home run from ex Cub Jeff Bianchi and seven strong innings from Yovani Gallardo. The win was the Brewers third in a row overall and their seventh straight over the Cubs this season.

The big hit on this night belonged to shortstop Jeff Bianchi who was claimed on waivers by the Brewers back in January. This is Bianchi's third stint with the Brewers this season and he is starting to see positive results at the plate after starting out hitless in his first 15 at bats with the Brewers. Bianchi delivered his first major league home run off Cubs starter Travis Wood in a scoreless game in the top of the second inning on a 3-0 offering from Wood. Brewers manager Ron Roenicke showed his confidence in Bianchi by giving him the green light on the 3-0 pitch. Bianchi didn't miss the 3-0 fastball that caught too much of the plate from Wood as he launched the home run deep into the left field bleachers. The three run blast scored Martin Maldonado and Carlos Gomez and staked Gallardo to a quick three run lead.

The three runs were more than enough support for Gallardo who continued his run off strong starts. Gallardo's only mistake came in the Cubs half of the third inning when he left a fastball up on an 0-2 pitch to Wood who sent it out to left field for his first home run of the season to cut the Brewers lead to 3-1 after three innings.

Gallardo settled in nicely after that mistake as he retired 12 straight Cubs at one point. Gallardo ended up going seven strong innings as he only allowed three base hits while walking three and striking out nine hitters. The win was Gallardo's sixth consecutive as he ran his record on the season to 14-8.

The Brewers added an insurance run in the top of the eighth inning thanks to some smart base running by Norichika Aoki. Aoki smacked a one out double and then got to third on his 21st stolen base on the year. After Rickie Weeks walked Aoki came around to score when Weeks got caught in a rundown that lasted long enough for Aoki to dash home before the throw from Cubs second baseman Darwin Barney. The insurance run proved pointless as Francisco Rodriguez and John Axford both pitched a scoreless inning to preserve the 4-1 victory with Axford recording his 21st save on the season.

Tags: Carlos Gomez, Chicago Cubs, Francisco Rodriguez, Jeff Bianchi, John Axford, Martin Maldonado, Milwaukee, Milwaukee Brewers, MLB, Norichika Aoki, Rickie Weeks, Ron Roenicke, Yovani Gallardo

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