Rizzo Homers, Cubs Finish By Beating Brewers 5-2
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Anthony Rizzo had a two-run homer among his three hits, and the young Chicago Cubs finished 2014 on a high note with a 5-2 victory Sunday over the Milwaukee Brewers.
Rizzo went deep to center off Mike Fiers (6-5) in the first. He jogged home to score from third in a two-run sixth on Arismendy Alcantara's double just inside the first base line.
Rizzo became the first Cubs left-handed hitter with 32 homers since Rick Monday in 1976.
Jacob Turner (6-11) allowed four hits and two runs in five-plus innings. He beat Milwaukee for the second time since being traded from Miami in August.
The Cubs are building for the future with Rizzo and rookie right-handed hitters Javier Baez and Jorge Soler. Chicago was 31-28 since July 28.
Hector Rondon threw a scoreless ninth for his 29th save in 33 chances.
The loss culminated a frustrating five weeks for Milwaukee and its struggling offense. Fifteen games over .500 on Aug. 25, the Brewers went 9-22 down the stretch and dropped out of the NL Central lead following a five-month reign.
The Brewers finished in third place in the division at 82-80, out of the playoffs for the third straight year.
Fiers gave up six hits and three earned runs while striking out seven in six innings. Alcantara's double broke a 2-all tie to score Rizzo and Soler after the runners went to second and third on a double steal.
Rizzo had his eighth three-hit game of the season.
Jonathan Lucroy, playing first base for Milwaukee, went 2 for 4 to finish the year hitting .300. Lucroy made the All-Star team as a catcher, but manager Ron Roenicke started him at first in the finale hoping he could reach the .300 plateau.
Lucroy over the weekend set the single-season record for most doubles by a catcher with 46.
Otherwise, the Brewers' feast-or-famine lineup had trouble scoring runs again on Sunday.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Cubs: Three players finished the season on the disabled list. OFs Justin Ruggiano (left foot) and Ryan Sweeney (hamstring) have been sidelined since late August. RHP James McDonald spent the whole season sidelined with shoulder inflammation.
Brewers: Roenicke is confident that Ryan Braun's production can improve once the outfielder finds a permanent fix in the offseason for his nagging nerve problem in the base of his right hand. Braun went 0 for 3 on Sunday to finish at .266 — by far the lowest average of his seven-year career.
UP NEXT
Cubs: Stocked with promising prospects, Chicago finished 73-89 for the year, seven wins better than 2013.
Brewers: When asked before the game, Roenicke said it was uncomfortable not knowing about his immediate future. GM Doug Melvin said this weekend that the fates of Roenicke and the coaching staff had not been decided. Roenicke is under contract through next season.
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