Cubs rally to complete two-game sweep vs. Brewers

CHICAGO (AP) -- Henry Blanco missed a crucial sign in the fifth. He made up for it in the ninth with a clutch hit.

Blanco, who missed a squeeze sign that resulted in Matt Murton being thrown out, singled in the winning run in the ninth after pinch-hitter Freddie Bynum tied the game with a solo homer earlier in the inning, leading the Chicago Cubs to a 3-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night.

"That's the first sign he missed all year long," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "He redeemed himself, big time."

Bynum homered on the first pitch from Brewers closer Francisco Cordero (3-1). Juan Pierre followed with a bunt single and moved to second on Ryan Theriot's sacrifice bunt. Cordero intentionally walked Jacque Jones and Murton hit a bloop single, loading the bases for John Mabry, who struck out. Blanco followed with a two-out single on an 0-2 pitch to end the game.

"I just heard the coaches say that [Cordero] is real aggressive and I just tried to jump on the first thing I saw," Bynum said.

The Cubs swept the two-game series for only their third sweep of the season at Wrigley Field.

Bob Howry (4-5) pitched a scoreless ninth for the Cubs, who drew over 3 million fans for the third straight season and third time in franchise history.

Cordero's blown save ruined a strong outing by Milwaukee starter Dave Bush.

"It happens," Cordero said. "You have to deal with it sometimes. It was a tough one because Bush pitched an excellent game and I gave up two runs."

Bush pitched eight strong innings and allowed three hits and one run. He struck out five and didn't allow a walk.

"That's the way I like to pitch every time I go out. I moved the ball around, mixed my pitches and threw strikes early. I threw the ball down," Bush said.

After retiring the first 12 Cubs hitters, Bush gave up a triple to Murton in the fifth. Murton got caught in a rundown and tagged out after Blanco missed the sign for a squeeze bunt.

"I got a little confused and missed the sign and I guarantee you it won't happen again," Blanco said.

Brady Clark homered off Cubs starter Rich Hill on a 3-2 pitch leading off the sixth inning. It was Clark's fourth of the season and second off the Cubs.

David Bell led off the seventh with a single and scored from first on Vinny Rottino's RBI double to give the Brewers a 2-0 lead.

Bush faced the minimum number of batters until Theriot led off the seventh with a bunt. Theriot went to third on Jones' double and scored on Murton's ground out.

Hill allowed two runs on six hits in seven innings. He struck out seven and walked two.

Game notes
A man sitting 10 rows behind the Cubs' on-deck circle was struck by a bat in the knee during the fifth inning. The fan was treated by first-aide personnel and then left in a wheelchair. Rottino lost control of his bat when he grounded out. ... Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez missed his second straight game with a sore right quad.