Braun knocks in 4 in Crew’s win over Cubs

MILWAUKEE — Jason Hammel had won 10 of his previous 14 starts against the Brewers and Anthony Rizzo gave him a boost to a potential 11th when he smacked a home run in the first. But the Brewers answered with five runs in the bottom of the inning, more than they had scored in any previous start against Hammel. And that’s all they needed.

Jonathan Villar hit a leadoff home run and Domingo Santana added a two-run single in the five-run first and Ryan Braun drove in four runs — including three on his 26th home run in the sixth — to lead the Brewers to a 12-5 victory on Tuesday night over the Cubs, who will file this away as a rare clunker.

Wily Peralta denied the Cubs their 90th win despite serving up three home runs, including two by Rizzo, who added a two-run shot in the eighth for his 12th career multihomer game and third this season. Miguel Montero also hit a solo homer with two outs in the second. Peralta struck out six over 7 2/3 innings and collected his first win since Aug. 14.

Braun’s homer was his fourth off Hammel, tied for his highest career total against any one pitcher. Hernan Perez finished with a career-high four hits, including a two-run single in the eighth.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDBatting around: The Brewers did not make an unproductive out in the first inning until their ninth batter — Peralta — struck out swinging, one pitch after hitting a bloop down the right-field line that landed just foul. It was already 5-1 by then thanks to Villar’s third career leadoff home run, Braun’s go-ahead single, Santana’s two-run single and Martin Maldonado’s sacrifice fly. By …

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