CHICAGO, May 5 (UPI) -- Richie Sexson and Wes Helms hit two-run homers and Ben Sheets pitched into the eighth inning Monday night to lead the Milwaukee Brewers to a 5-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs.
Last year, on their way to a franchise-record 106 losses, Milwaukee took 10 of 17 meetings with Chicago, including four of seven at Wrigley Field. Five of those victories came during the Cubs' nine-game losing streak in May.
Sexson sent starter Matt Clement's 2-2 pitch over the left-center field with two out in the two outs to cap a three-run third inning. After hitting six homers off Cubs' pitching last season, Sexson moved into a tie with Houston's Jeff Bagwell and Texas' Juan Gonzalez for the major league lead with 11.
In the sixth, Helms hit Clement's (2-4) first pitch into the right-center field bleachers to make it 5-1. It was his fifth home run of the season and fourth in seven games.
Staked to a four-run lead, Sheets (3-3) improved to 6-0 lifetime against Chicago. He allowed three runs and five hits in 7 2/3 innings with a walk and five strikeouts.
Sheets served up a home run to rookie Hee Seop Choi with one out in the second but retired 19 of the next 21 batters before Eric Karros homered with two outs in the eighth.
Sheets issued a one-out walk to Mark Grudzielanek and was replaced by Luis Vizcaino, who allowed a hit but struck out Sammy Sosa on three pitches.
Mike DeJean worked around a one-out walk in the ninth and earned his sixth save in seven chances, nailing down Milwaukee's third win in 13 games.
