Sweep success: Hammel leads Cubs past Crew

CHICAGO — Jason Hammel continued his stingy ways, and got some stellar help from his defense, including first baseman Anthony Rizzo, as the Cubs beat the Brewers, 4-1, on Tuesday night to sweep the doubleheader. Chicago won Tuesday’s first game at Wrigley Field, 4-0.

Javier Baez smacked a two-run homer, and Willson Contreras and Kris Bryant each hit RBI singles for the Cubs, who held the Brewers scoreless for more than 17 innings over the two games before Hernan Perez hit a solo home run off Travis Wood with two outs in the ninth inning of the nightcap. After Chris Carter followed with a single, the Cubs called upon Aroldis Chapman, who eventually recorded the final out — a bases-loaded strikeout of Martin Maldonado — for his second save of the day.

Rizzo showed no fear in the fifth when he jumped onto the brick wall near the tarp to catch a popup. Hammel helped himself defensively in the sixth after he had walked Scooter Gennett with one out. The right-hander got Ramon Flores to hit a comebacker, and then Hammel turned a 1-6-3 double play.

It’s the first doubleheader sweep at home since July 7, 2015, when the Cubs took two against the Cardinals. The Cubs now have won 16 of their last 19 games, and are 22-8 since the All-Star break, the best record in the Major Leagues.

Milwaukee not only lost both games, it lost starter Chase Anderson and left fielder Ryan Braun to injuries. Bryant lined a ball off Anderson’s left leg that knocked him out of the game in the first after just 11 pitches, while Ryan Braun limped off the field with a left knee injury after sliding into the wall in foul territory.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDStart me up: Hammel gave up two hits over seven innings, striking out seven. He has not given up a run in his last 24 innings, and has won six straight starts for the first …

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