Major League Baseball

Hammel, Rizzo lead Cubs past Brewers 4-1

Published Jul. 31, 2015 11:51 p.m. ET

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MILWAUKEE (AP) Jason Hammel loves facing the Milwaukee Brewers, especially at Miller Park.

Hammel beat Milwaukee for the seventh consecutive decision with his first win overall in almost two months and Anthony Rizzo homered to lead the Chicago Cubs past the rebuilding Brewers 4-1 on Friday night.

Hammel (6-5) improved to 7-0 in nine starts against Milwaukee and picked up his first victory since June 6. He allowed a run on six hits over 5 2-3 innings to beat the Brewers for the second time this season. His only mistake was a pitch Ryan Braun hit for his 19th home run in the first.

''I like pitching here,'' Hammel said. ''I feel like the ball, whatever, it's the atmosphere, the ball feels good.''

He threw 103 pitches, 66 for strikes. His pitch count hadn't been that high since throwing 107 against the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 23, six starts ago.

''I feel like I have a good grip,'' Hammel said. ''And it is what it is. I don't know. Those things I can't really explain.''

He beat Milwaukee at Miller Park on May 8, allowing two runs on five hits over seven innings.

''He's got good stuff,'' Milwaukee starter Taylor Jungmann said. ''I haven't seen too much from him other than the three or four pitches I saw from him. So, I can't tell you too much about him, but you look at his numbers and can tell he's got great stuff.''

Hector Rondon pitched the ninth for his 15th save and sending the Cubs to their third straight win.

Starlin Castro, in an 11-for-80 slump (.138) over the last 22 games, drove in two runs with a single in the first and a fielder's choice in the sixth.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon liked what he saw from his shortstop.

''He had three really good at-bats for us,'' Maddon said. ''(He) did a nice job at shortstop, but he's capable of that. I mean, that's who he is.''

Rizzo, who had a game-winning three run homer Thursday, hit a solo shot in the seventh, matching his career high with his third consecutive game with a home run. Addison Russell added a run-scoring single in the sixth and chased Jungmann (5-3).

Both teams made moves before Friday's non-waiver trade deadline. The Brewers, losers of 8 of 10, felt the biggest impact, with Gerardo Parra and Jonathan Broxton being dealt - making it four veteran players traded in little more than a week.

Chicago picked up a pair of veteran right-handers.

The Brewers sent outfielder Gerardo Parra, the hottest hitter on a weak-hitting team, to Baltimore, and they moved reliever Broxton to St. Louis.

Parra was batting .460 during a career-high 14-game hitting streak. Hitting .328 overall, Parra was Milwaukee's only regular above .300.

Two-time All-Star center fielder Carlos Gomez and starting right-hander Mike Fiers were acquired by Houston on Thursday. Slugging third baseman Aramis Ramirez was traded eight days ago to Pittsburgh. Milwaukee received minor leaguers in all three trades.

Chicago acquired Dan Haren from the Marlins for a pair of minor leaguers and Tommy Hunter from the Orioles for outfielder Junior Lake. Haren figures to be in the rotation, making his first start next week in Pittsburgh at the earliest. Hunter, a converted starter, adds depth to the bullpen.

Jungmann allowed three runs, two earned, on seven hits over 5 2-3 innings. The young right-hander tied his season high with seven strikeouts for the third time this season, but lost for the second consecutive start and the rookie's first losing streak.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Cubs: No date has been set for the return of C Miguel Montero, who has been on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left thumb since July 17.

Brewers: OF Logan Schafer (recalled) and INF-OF Elian Herrera (selected) joined the Brewers, replacing two outfielders, Carlos Gomez (Houston) and Gerardo Parra (Baltimore), who were traded Thursday and Friday respectively.

UP NEXT

Cubs: RHP Kyle Hendricks (4-5, 3.81 ERA) makes his 21st start. He took a no decision against the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday, the sixth time this season he's left the game with a lead, but received a no-decision.

Brewers: RHP Matt Garza (5-11, 5.20 ERA) makes his 19th start of the season and second against Chicago. He took a no-decision on May 10 at Miller Park. Overall, he is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in four career starts against the Cubs.

CUBS STREAKING

Dexter Fowler extended his on-base streak to 15 games. ... Rizzo extended his hitting streak to five games. ... Russell extended his hitting streak to six games.

ONE MORE TO 250

Braun hit his 249th career home run in the bottom of the first.

FIRST TIME

Shane Peterson started in center field for the first time in his 44 game career.

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