Free Live Odds - Scores and Odds - Sports News - Sports Information - Live Scores - Sports Statistics - Sports Articles - Sports Standings - Live Scoreboard - Live Odds - Sporting Events - Live Lines

Final Score: Chicago Cubs 6 - Milwaukee 4

Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Derrek Lee went 3-for-5 and drove in three, including the go-ahead RBI double in the ninth, and the Chicago Cubs edged the Milwaukee Brewers, 6-4, in a see-saw opener of a crucial four-game set between the top two teams in the NL Central.

Alfonso Soriano homered, doubled, and scored three times for the Cubs, who have won four of six and pushed their lead over the Brewers to two games. Chad Gaudin (7-4) got the win for a scoreless inning in relief of Ted Lilly, who gave up seven hits and three runs in six innings.

Salomon Torres (5-3) gave up two runs on two hits and three walks in the ninth to take the loss. J.J. Hardy, Ryan Braun, and Russell Branyan each hit solo homers for the Brewers, who twice battled back from deficits only to lose for the third time in four games.

CC Sabathia was not quite his dominant self on Monday, giving up nine hits and three runs in 6 2/3 innings, with three strikeouts and two walks.

Chicago edged in front with two runs off Torres in the ninth. Torres issued free passes to Soriano and pinch-hitter Mike Fontenot with one out, and they came back to haunt him. Lee sent a line drive into the corner in right, and the double plated Soriano with the go-ahead run.

Aramis Ramirez was intentionally walked to load the bases, and Geovany Soto's infield single to deep short scored Fontenot for a two-run Cubs edge.

"Late in games, that gets you in trouble, walking guys," said Brewers manager Ned Yost. "It got him (Torres) tonight, he's really been effective in that role. Walks hurt."

Carlos Marmol fanned the first two batters of the ninth, then walked Jason Kendall. Gabe Kapler fouled off a pitch that the home plate umpire Ted Barrett initially ruled strike three, but third base umpire Doug Eddings overruled the call, giving Kapler one more chance. He drove a ball to deep left, but Soriano made a leaping grab at the warning track to end the game.

The save for Marmol was his fifth of the season.

Soriano led off the game with a double to center, stole third with one out, and came home on Lee's single to right. Soriano then extended the Chicago lead to 2-0 with a long homer to left-center to lead off the third, his 17th of the season.

Lilly took a two-hit shutout into the sixth, but surrendered five hits and three runs in the inning as the Brewers took the lead. Hardy started it with a solo homer to left with one out, and Braun followed with his 29th homer of the season, tying the game at 2-2.

Prince Fielder singled and came home on Corey Hart's double, but Hart was thrown out trying for a triple, and the Brewers settled for a 3-2 lead.

"I just made mistakes to good hitters," said Lilly. "I'd like to have (the sixth inning) back dearly. I felt I was in a good position to give us seven or eight innings."

A throwing error by Rickie Weeks allowed the Cubs to take the lead back in the seventh. With the bases loaded and one out, Sabathia got Lee to ground a dead double-play ball to Hardy, who flipped to Weeks at second. Weeks' throw to first was wild up the line, though, and two runs scored on the play, giving Chicago a 4-3 lead.

Branyan came on as pinch-hitter in the home half of the frame with two outs and the bases empty. He came through with his 12th homer of the season, an opposite-field blast out to left-center, tying the game at 4-4.