Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Prince Fielder recorded his first career five- hit game, drove in five runs and scored twice in Milwaukee's 18-1 drubbing of the Cubs in the first of three meetings at Wrigley Field.
Fielder’s Five-Hit Night Propels Brewers In 18-1 Drubbing Of Cubs
The Brewers, who had scored eight total runs during their five-game skid coming in, posted a season-high 26 hits, 22 of which were singles.
Corey Hart celebrated signing a three-year contract extension on Monday by going 4-for-7 with three runs scored and an RBI, while Ryan Braun came across the plate three times and drove a pair in in a five-hit effort.
Casey McGehee went 2-for-5 with three runs scored, a homer and four RBI, and Rickie Weeks knocked in three in the rout.
Yovani Gallardo (10-5) was overshadowed by the run support, matching a season- high with 12 strikeouts while allowing just two hits, one walk and one run over a six-inning start to pick up the win.
Randy Wells (5-9) was knocked around for seven runs -- six earned -- on 10 hits in four-plus innings for Chicago, which has dropped six straight.
The Brewers had one hit over the first three innings, then erupted from there.
Braun and Fielder each singled to open the fourth and trotted home when McGehee sent one deep over the center-field wall. The next three hitters recorded singles, and Weeks drove in a pair for a 5-0 cushion.
The Cubs got their only run in the bottom half, as Starlin Castro led off with a double and later scored on an Aramis Ramirez groundout.
Wells was pulled after putting the first two hitters on in the fifth, and Justin Berg had little success in relief, walking Jim Edmonds to load the bases before Alcides Escobar singled home a run.
Ramirez’s throwing error allowed McGehee to score two batters later, and Weeks notched an RBI groundout before Hart and Braun added run-scoring singles.
McGehee scored again in the sixth on an Escobar base hit off Casey Coleman, then hit a sacrifice fly following Fielder's RBI single in the seventh, pushing the margin to 13-1.
Fielder came up with the bases loaded in the eighth and greeted Brian Schlitter with a gapper to right, clearing the bases.
Braun and Fielder put the finishing touches on their five-hit games with run- scoring hits in the ninth.
Cubs manager Lou Piniella, in Tampa, Fla. on personal business, will return to the bench on Tuesday...Each Brewers starting position player had at least one hit...Castro had two of Chicago's four hits...Milwaukee did not match its season-high for runs (20), accomplished against the Pirates on April 22.
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