MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Once Carlos Marmol calmed down Saturday
night, he was well on his way to snapping a four-start winless
streak.
Marmol overcame a wild start to pitch six effective innings and
the Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1.
"It was a very good game for him," Cubs manager Dusty Baker
said. "I am glad he was able to get his second win. He's a kid who
wants it and wants to stay here. I'd rather have a kid that you
have to rein in and keep under control than one that you have to
prod."
Marmol (2-3) walked three of the first five batters he faced in
the first inning but still won for the first time since June 11 at
Cincinnati. The rookie right-hander allowed three hits and one run.
He struck out four and finished with five walks.
"I was trying to be aggressive, but I calmed down and nobody
was able to score," Marmol said.
Four relievers combined to pitch the final three innings with
Ryan Dempster working a perfect ninth for his 14th save in 19
opportunities.
"(Marmol) was overthrowing early," Baker said. "He didn't
start off too well, but then he settled down and threw the pitches
he needed to. It was big for him to get out of the first inning
after walking three. Once he settled down, he was more in
control."
Michael Barrett also matched a career high with four hits, all
singles, for the Cubs, who won for the third time in four games.
"I got a couple of lucky hits tonight, but I'll take them,"
said Barrett, who also had four hits against the White Sox last
Sunday.
Chicago scored two runs in the fifth to take the lead. Barrett
led off with a single and scored on Matt Murton's second triple of
the season to tie it at 1. Ronny Cedeno followed with a sacrifice
fly to left.
Brewers pitcher Dave Bush said he made a mistake on his pitch to
Murton.
"It missed over the middle of the plate," Bush said. "He
obviously drove it pretty well."
Bush (5-7) went seven innings for Milwaukee, giving up two runs
and nine hits. He struck out eight and didn't walk a batter, losing
for the first time in five starts.
"It was two runs on four pitches in that fifth inning that kind
of turned the game," Bush said. "It happened pretty quickly.
Other than that, I thought I threw pretty well."
Bush doubled in Damian Miller in the second inning for the
Brewers. It was his sixth hit and second double of the season.
Milwaukee finished with five hits.
"When you swing the bat well and get good pitching, chances are
you're going to win ballgames," Milwaukee manager Ned Yost said.
"Bush was lights out and did a nice job. We just couldn't get him
runs."
Game notes
Cubs RHP Kerry Wood has a partial tear in his right rotator
cuff and will be out at least four weeks. ... The Miller Park roof
started to close before the game and finished in the bottom of the
first. It did not rain, however. ... Rickie Weeks was hit by a
pitch and leads the majors with 17 this season. ... Cedeno singled
in the sixth to snap an 0-for-15 skid. ... Milwaukee RHP Ben
Sheets, on the disabled list since May 3 with tendinitis in his
right shoulder, is scheduled to make his first rehab start Sunday
for Triple-A Nashville at Round Rock. RHP Tomo Ohka and LHP Jorge
De La Rosa were scheduled to make minor league rehab starts on
Saturday. Ohka's game was rained out, however.