Javier Baez, Anthony Rizzo homer in latest Cubs win

First baseman Anthony Rizzo drove in a pair of runs and teamed up with Javier Baez to hit back-to-back homers in the third inning as the Chicago Cubs guaranteed a series split with the Milwaukee Brewers with a 4-2 win at Wrigley Field Wednesday night.

Baez led off the third against Brewers right-hander Kyle Lohse (11-7, 3.49 ERA) with his fourth home run of the year – a towering shot to that cleared the right field bleachers, landing on Waveland Avenue – his first home run at home this season.

Rizzo went just 1-for-3 on the night, but that lone hit followed Baez’s blast, a solo shot, as well – the Cubs’ young slugger’s team-leading 27th homer of the season – giving Chicago lefty Tsuyoshi Wada a 4-0 cushion early on.

Wada (2-1, 3.15 ERA) suffered just minor blemishes in another solid start for the Cubs, and those came in back-to-back fashion in the Milwaukee seventh, when Rickie Weeks and Martin Maldonado each clubbed solo homers to cut the Chicago lead to 4-2. The southpaw tossed 6 2/3 innings of two-run ball, scattering five hits and striking out five.

Chicago (52-67) was also led offensively by leadoff man Chris  Coghlan, who continued his strong season, adding three hits on the night. The outfielder is now hitting .291 on the year. Starlin Castro also added a trio of hits in the win and Baez tallied a pair of base knocks to raise his season average to .268.

Milwaukee (66-55) went down 1-2-3 in the ninth to Chicago closer Hector Rondon, who notched his 16th save of the season.