Davies has allowed only three earned runs over his last three starts and is 7-1 with a 2.83 ERA over his last 14 outings.
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Lackey got out of the inning and stranded the bases loaded in the third but in the fourth inning, fell behind, 2-1, to Nieuwenhuis, who made it a 3-0 game with a solo home run off the batter’s eye in center. Nathan’s immediate role has not been defined, but he is not expected to supplant Cubs closer Hector Rondon. He inherited two runners and eventually gave up a three-run home run to Kirk Nieuwenhuis-his second home run of the game.
Jason Hammel (9-5) allowed four hits and two runs over five-plus innings for his second victory since the All-Star break for NL Central-leading Chicago.
Cubs vs Brewers Sunday in Milwaukee – Veteran left-hander Jon Lester will be going for his 11th win of the season on Sunday afternoon when the Chicago Cubs face off against Junior Guerra and the Milwaukee Brewers.
“How about it? Just right out of the gate, crushes the ball to center-field”, manager Joe Maddon said. The Chicago Cubs offense continues to produce, and they’ve won five straight games when scoring more than three runs.
Smith’s struggles overshadowed another solid start by 31-year-old rookie Guerra, who allowed five hits and one unearned run over 6 1/3 innings.
Scooter Gennett plated two for the Brewers, while Will Smith took the loss.
Anyway, whatever Bosio said must have worked, because Nathan proceeded to strike out the three best hitters in the Brewers lineup, Ryan Braun, Jonathan Lucroy and Chris Carter.
“It was without a doubt the hottest game of the year, and it was one of the longer games, so guys were exhausted, for sure”, Counsell said.
It was opened after the first inning only to be closed again with the Brewers batting in the third as a rainstorm moved into the area.
Even pregame ceremonies had some Chicago flair when cornerback Charles “Peanut” Tillman, who retired earlier Friday after signing a one-day contract with the NFL’s Bears, threw out a ceremonial first pitch. Over his previous 13 starts he’d posted a 6-1 record and 2.95 ERA.
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Joe Nathan joins the Cubs bullpen on Sunday, and after another terrible performance from Clayton Richard, many believed he had thrown his last pitch as a Cub. Lester is 2-2 with a 2.22 ERA and 28 strikeouts in his career against the Brewers.
