Marmol, 'pen provide Cubs rare happy ending

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Once Carlos Marmol calmed down Saturday night, he was well on his way to snapping a four-start winless streak.

Marmol overcame a wild start to pitch six effective innings and the Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1.

"It was a very good game for him," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "I am glad he was able to get his second win. He's a kid who wants it and wants to stay here. I'd rather have a kid that you have to rein in and keep under control than one that you have to prod."

Marmol (2-3) walked three of the first five batters he faced in the first inning but still won for the first time since June 11 at Cincinnati. The rookie right-hander allowed three hits and one run. He struck out four and finished with five walks.

"I was trying to be aggressive, but I calmed down and nobody was able to score," Marmol said.

Four relievers combined to pitch the final three innings with Ryan Dempster working a perfect ninth for his 14th save in 19 opportunities.

"(Marmol) was overthrowing early," Baker said. "He didn't start off too well, but then he settled down and threw the pitches he needed to. It was big for him to get out of the first inning after walking three. Once he settled down, he was more in control."

Michael Barrett also matched a career high with four hits, all singles, for the Cubs, who won for the third time in four games.

"I got a couple of lucky hits tonight, but I'll take them," said Barrett, who also had four hits against the White Sox last Sunday.

Chicago scored two runs in the fifth to take the lead. Barrett led off with a single and scored on Matt Murton's second triple of the season to tie it at 1. Ronny Cedeno followed with a sacrifice fly to left.

Brewers pitcher Dave Bush said he made a mistake on his pitch to Murton.

"It missed over the middle of the plate," Bush said. "He obviously drove it pretty well."

Bush (5-7) went seven innings for Milwaukee, giving up two runs and nine hits. He struck out eight and didn't walk a batter, losing for the first time in five starts.

"It was two runs on four pitches in that fifth inning that kind of turned the game," Bush said. "It happened pretty quickly. Other than that, I thought I threw pretty well."

Bush doubled in Damian Miller in the second inning for the Brewers. It was his sixth hit and second double of the season. Milwaukee finished with five hits.

"When you swing the bat well and get good pitching, chances are you're going to win ballgames," Milwaukee manager Ned Yost said. "Bush was lights out and did a nice job. We just couldn't get him runs."

Game notes
Cubs RHP Kerry Wood has a partial tear in his right rotator cuff and will be out at least four weeks. ... The Miller Park roof started to close before the game and finished in the bottom of the first. It did not rain, however. ... Rickie Weeks was hit by a pitch and leads the majors with 17 this season. ... Cedeno singled in the sixth to snap an 0-for-15 skid. ... Milwaukee RHP Ben Sheets, on the disabled list since May 3 with tendinitis in his right shoulder, is scheduled to make his first rehab start Sunday for Triple-A Nashville at Round Rock. RHP Tomo Ohka and LHP Jorge De La Rosa were scheduled to make minor league rehab starts on Saturday. Ohka's game was rained out, however.