Cubs’ Lilly shuts down Brewers in 8-2 victory

CHICAGO — Ted Lilly pitched effectively into the seventh inning and Derrek Lee hit a two-run homer, leading the Chicago Cubs to an 8-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.

Jake Fox also had a two-run home run for the Cubs, who took three of four from the Brewers. The Cubs moved 1½ games back of the Brewers in the NL Central Division for second place and trail the first-place St. Louis Cardinals by 2½ games in the division.

After having a National League record-tying eight players selected to the All-Star game last season, Lilly (8-6) was the lone Cubs representative selected on Sunday. He allowed two runs on nine hits in 6 1-3 innings. He struck out nine, including the side in the fifth. He left to a loud ovation from the crowd of 40,359 in the seventh.

Prince Fielder, who was picked as a reserve to his second All-Star game, hit a solo homer for Milwaukee and Ryan Braun, the top vote-getting NL outfielder for the second straight season, was 1 for 4. The Brewers host St. Louis for a three-game series beginning on Tuesday.

Kosuke Fukudome led off the first inning by driving the first pitch from Mike Burns (1-2) off the left-center wall for a triple. One out later, Lee hit his 15th homer of the season into the left-center bleachers. Since May 1, Lee is hitting .323 with 14 home runs and 41 RBIs. He only hit one home run in April.

In the fourth inning, Fielder hit a two-out solo shot to center for his 22nd of the season.

The Cubs added to its lead in the bottom of the half. Milton Bradley walked then went to third on Fox’s double. One out later, Geovany Soto hit a sacrifice fly to score Bradley and Mike Fontenot followed with an RBI single to give the Cubs a 4-1 lead.

With runners on first and third and no outs in the fifth, Lee hit an RBI single. After Lee got caught stealing and Bradley was called out on strikes, Fox ended Burns’ day with a two-run home run onto Waveland Ave. It was Fox’s fourth of the season in his 26th game.

Burns was tagged for seven runs and nine hits in 4 2-3 innings.

Casey McGehee drove in Braun with a single in the sixth inning. He was 3 for 4 and 9 for 19 in the series.

NOTES: Brewers RHP Dave Bush, on the 15-day DL since June 23 with a right arm fatigue, threw off mound for first time Sunday. The Brewers hope to have him back on July 15. “We’re going to take the cautious route,” Milwaukee manager Ken Macha said. … Cubs 3B Aramis Ramirez and OF Reed Johnson are expected to be activated from the DL on Monday. Ramirez was placed on the DL on May 9 with a dislocated left shoulder and Johnson has been out since June 21st with lower back spasms.