Nelson, Brewers can’t dig out of early hole vs. Cubs

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CHICAGO — It’s American Legion week for the Cubs, something manager Joe Maddon created as a salute to the days when kids would show up at the neighborhood diamond to play without much prep work. Maddon’s version encourages players to report late to the ballpark, and there is no batting practice. It worked on Wednesday.

Jorge Soler smacked a three-run homer and David Ross added a solo shot to back Jon Lester and lift the Cubs to a 6-1 victory over the Brewers at Wrigley Field in front of 40,310. Chicago has won 17 of its last 20 games, and 23 of the last 31 since the All-Star break.

Lester struck out seven over 6 2/3 innings and won his fourth straight decision. Cubs starting pitchers have been on a roll, and are 11-0 with a 1.61 ERA (19 earned runs over 106 1/3 innings) in the last 16 games since July 31.

Soler’s homer highlighted a five-run first inning and came off Milwaukee’s Jimmy Nelson, who is now winless in four starts against the Cubs. Ross connected off the right-hander with two outs in the third for his eighth homer of the season, the most since he belted nine in 2012.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDFirst things first: The Cubs sent 10 batters to the plate in the first. Nelson walked Dexter Fowler and then hit Kris …

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