Kris Bryant's Huge Day Leads Cubs To Sweep Of Brewers
CHICAGO (AP) — Kris Bryant homered twice, doubled and drove in five runs while going 5-for-5 and the Chicago Cubs overcame a career-high seven walks by Jake Arrieta to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 9-6 Thursday for a four-game sweep.
Bryant tied Colorado's Nolan Arenado for the NL lead with 30 home runs. The Cubs won for the 18th time in 21 games and improved the best record in the majors to 77-43.
Chicago led 5-0 when Arrieta (15-5) issued a pair of two-out walks in the fourth. Kirk Nieuwenhuis followed with a three-run homer.
Hernan Perez hit a solo homer in the sixth off Arrieta, who allowed four runs and three hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Aroldis Chapman worked the ninth for his seventh save with the Cubs.
Bryant singled and scored in the first, hit a two-run homer in the third and had an RBI double in the fourth off Zach Davies (9-6). Bryant hit a solo homer off Blaine Boyer in the sixth and added an RBI single in the eighth off Corey Knebel for his second career five-hit game.
Bryant, who hit 26 homers while winning the NL Rookie of the Year in 2015, had his third multihomer game of the season. He has 78 RBIs.
Anthony Rizzo doubled twice off Davies, who allowed a season-high seven earned runs and 10 hits in four innings.
The Brewers got left fielder Ryan Braun back after he banged up his left knee and ankle chasing a foul ball Tuesday. But Braun went 0 for 5 and couldn't come up with Addison Russell's fly that drifted to the wall and was ruled a single in Chicago's three-run third.
Milwaukee was outscored 23-8 in the series and fell to 0-6 at Wrigley Field.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Brewers: RHP Chase Anderson (quadriceps) was scheduled to play catch, two days after leaving in the first inning when he was hit by a line drive. "If he's healthy, we'll be able to use Chase out of the bullpen for a couple days this weekend and he'll start at some point next week," manager Craig Counsell said.
Cubs: Manager Joe Maddon said they'll decide in the next couple of days if RHP John Lackey (shoulder) will make his next scheduled start Tuesday.
CONTRERAS MOVES UP
Willson Contreras caught Arrieta for the first time. The 24-year-old rookie has moved ahead of struggling veteran Miguel Montero.
Contreras hit an RBI double in the third and picked off Ramon Flores at first in the fifth. He also had two passed balls.
CUBS TORMENTER
Of Nieuwenhuis' 11 homers, five have come against the Cubs. The center fielder also doubled and scored in the eighth.
UP NEXT
Brewers: A minor league call-up will start Friday night at Seattle against LHP Wade LeBlanc (2-0, 4.68 ERA). Milwaukee was expected to announce the move later Thursday.
Cubs: RHP Kyle Hendricks (11-7, 2.19) starts Friday night at Colorado to begin a nine-game trip against the Rockies and LHP Tyler Anderson (4-4, 3.42). Chicago plays 18 of its next 25 on the road.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
