MILWAUKEE _ Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo missed his second consecutive start Saturday with back tightness, and his offensive presence was missed until the top of the ninth inning.
After going hitless in six at-bats with runners in scoring position, the Cubs came through with four runs to seize a 5-2 victory over the Brewers before a sellout crowd of 43,331 at Miller Park.
An error by third baseman Travis Shaw allowed the Cubs to load the bases in the ninth. Ben Zobrist's infield single tied the game and Ian Happ, who struck out 17 times in his first 27 at-bats this season, poked a two-run single to left center for a 4-2 lead.
The Cubs loaded the bases again, which forced manager Joe Maddon to use ace Jon Lester as a pinch-hitter. Lester perfectly executed a squeeze bunt to score Zobrist.
Brandon Morrow, pitching for the first time since March 30, threw a scoreless ninth to earn his first save as a Cub.
The forecast for the Cubs looked ominous through eighth innings. Jett Bandy was hit by a pitch by Steve Cishek with one out in the eighth, then Eric Sogard snapped an 0-for-12 start by hitting a double over the head of Jason Heyward in right field.
Lorenzo Cain followed with a sacrifice fly off Pedro Strop to score Bandy and put the Brewers ahead 2-1.
Kris Bryant hit a home run off starter Zach Davies to lead off the sixth to tie the game.
Eric Thames hit a home run off Yu Darvish that landed in the upper deck in right field to open the fourth for the Brewers' first hit.
Darvish allowed two hits and one run while striking out nine and walking one over six innings.
