Braun leads Brewers to 11-5 win over Cubs

Ryan Braun hit a two-run home run to jump start a five-run first inning as the Chicago Cubs fell 11-5 on Friday night at Miller Park.

Cubs’ (19-33) starter Travis Wood (5-5) had one of his worse outings this year allowing seven runs on 10 hits in just 2 2/3 innings.

Khris Davis and Martin Maldonado both had RBI doubles, and Rickie Weeks singled in another run to give the Brewers (33-22) a 5-0 lead after the first.

The Brewers added one more run in the second and another in the third to chase Wood. Reliever Carlos Villanueva did not fare much better, allowing four runs in the fifth off singles by Weeks, Braun, and Jean Segura. Marco Estrada helped out his own cause with a sacrifice bunt for a 9-0 lead.

Emilio Bonifacio and Junior Lake knocked in a run off Estrada (5-2) to snap the Cubs’ 20 inning scoreless streak. Estrada allowed three runs on six hits while striking out five and walking four over six innings.

Nate Schierholtz cut the deficit again in the sixth with his second home run of the season.

The Cubs would make a little noise in the ninth and make it interesting. After retiring the first two hitters, Tyler Thornburg walked Lake and Luis Valbuena.

Starlin Castro then singled to center to score Lake, and John Baker hit a blooper into left to bring home Valbuena.

But the rally was short-lived as Wellington Castillo grounded into a force out to end the game.