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Final Score: Milwaukee 4 - Chicago Cubs 3
Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Tony Gwynn's sacrifice fly in the 10th inning was the difference as Milwaukee clipped the Chicago Cubs, 4-3, in the season opener for both teams at Wrigley Field.
Corey Hart added a two-run double and Ryan Braun knocked in the other run for the Brewers, who have won their last five contests on Opening Day. Milwaukee's last defeat in its first game of the season came in an 11-9 loss at St. Louis on March 31, 2003.
Eric Gagne (1-0) picked up a blown save by allowing three runs in the ninth, but nonetheless earned the win. Starter Ben Sheets threw 6 1/3 innings of two- hit, shutout ball in the no decision.
Kosuke Fukudome slammed a tying three-run homer in the ninth inning in his major-league debut for the Cubs, who dropped their second straight home opener. Bob Howry (0-1) took the loss in one inning of relief.
Chicago starter Carlos Zambrano was stellar, scattering three hits in 6 2/3 shutout innings before leaving with a forearm cramp.
Against Howry, Craig Counsell led off with a double and Jason Kendall advanced him on a sacrifice. Rickie Weeks was hit to put runners on the corners, then Gwynn's sac fly to deep center scored the lead run. Weeks motored to third on a Prince Fielder single, but Braun fouled out to right to end the inning.
"I'm just trying to put the ball in play," Gwynn said. "With the infield playing in, I'm not trying to do too much."
David Riske sat the Cubs down in order in the bottom of the frame to lock up the win and earn his first save.
Two rain delays totaling one hour, 30 minutes interrupted great performances by Sheets and Zambrano, who continued to hurl goose eggs under gloomy skies late into the contest.
"He looked good. He had his command," Chicago first baseman Derrek Lee said of Sheets. "He had some pop on his fastball, and threw his curve for strikes."
After allowing just three hits, and picking off Bill Hall at second to erase a potential go-ahead run, Zambrano was pulled with two down in the seventh appearing to favor his pitching hand. Carlos Marmol fanned Hart looking to end the inning.
Kerry Wood came on in the ninth, and promptly drilled Weeks. After Gwynn's sacrifice, he walked Fielder intentionally. Braun laced a single to center, scoring Weeks, then Hart sliced a ball off the base of the wall in right to plate a pair and the Brewers went up 3-0.
Gagne made his Milwaukee debut in the home half, and promptly allowed a leadoff single to Lee. He walked Aramis Ramirez on four pitches, and let Fukudome drill a 3-1 offering into the right-center-field bleachers to tie the game.
The veteran cooled down, however, to retire Mark DeRosa and Geovany Soto before allowing an infield hit to Felix Pie. Pinch-hitter Mike Fontenot grounded out to prevent further damage.
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