Milwaukee Brewers: Hernan Perez, Chase Anderson propel rout of Chicago Cubs

CHICAGO -- Hernan Perez homered and drove in five runs and Chase Anderson threw five scoreless innings and drove in a pair of runs as the Milwaukee Brewers routed the Chicago Cubs 15-2 on Saturday.

Anderson held the Cubs to just one hit and benefited from an early eight-run lead as the Brewers moved to within three games of the first-place Cubs in the National League Central. Anderson (9-3) struck out five and walked one while collecting two RBI singles from the plate.

The Brewers blew the game open in the third inning when they batted around and scored eight runs. After Cubs starter Mike Montgomery yielded a pair of walks and a single, Travis Shaw followed with a two-run double. Jesus Aguilar added to the lead with a RBI single before Orlando Arcia produced the inning's second two-run double.

Milwaukee also produced a run on a balk by reliever Justin Grimm, who surrendered another four runs after Montgomery departed. With the Brewers leading 6-0, Anderson laid down an RBI sacrifice bunt before Perez capped the offensive explosion with a sacrifice fly.

Montgomery (5-8) failed to record an out in the eight-run third and left after allowing four runs on just two hits. Montgomery walked four and struck out two before Grimm surrendered entered.

Anderson drove in his second run of the game with an RBI single on a drawn-in infield in the fifth inning before Perez drilled a two-run homer. Arcia extended the Brewers lead to 12-0 in the sixth with an RBI single before Perez added to the cushion with a two-run single.

The Brewers capped their scoring in the eighth inning when Keon Broxton walked and eventually scored on a Dillon Maples' wild pitch. The Cubs finally got on the board in the eighth on Kyle Schwarber's 25th home run of the season before Leonys Martin produced an RBI double with two outs in the ninth.

NOTES: Brewers RHP Jimmy Nelson will miss the remainder of the season after he was diagnosed with a partially torn labrum and a right rotator cuff strain. Nelson was injured after diving back to first base after a hit on Friday night. Manager Craig Counsell said Saturday the Brewers would determine who will fill Nelson's spot in the rotation for the reminder of the season. ...Cubs LHP Rob Zastryzny picked up his first career major league hit with a sixth-inning single. ...Cubs SS Addison Russell (foot) ran for the third straight day and said he is progressing. Russell aggravated the injury on Aug. 31, which delayed his return by three weeks. Russell said the next step will be for him to run in cleats, which should happen in the coming days. "As far as moving around, I'm right there."