CHICAGO _ The Cubs snapped a three-game losing streak Tuesday night and maintained their 2 {-game lead over the Brewers in a tight National League Central with an 8-3 victory over the Mets at breezy Wrigley Field.
The Cubs' offense, which scored only three times in a three-game sweep by the Brewers last weekend, broke out during a four-run fourth in which Kris Bryant smacked a three-run homer.
Kyle Schwarber, who didn't start in any of the games against the Brewers, had three hits and reached base in all four of his plate appearances. Bryant hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the eighth, and leadoff batter Ben Zobrist reached base safely in four of his five plate appearances.
Cubs left-hander Jose Quintana, who pitched six scoreless innings in his last start against the Pirates, escaped jams in each of the first three innings before the Mets scratched single runs in the fourth and fifth. Quintana threw 112 pitches _ his most since joining the Cubs on July 13. His seven innings equaled his longest outing since his Cubs debut on July 16.
Embattled left-hander Justin Wilson allowed a single and two walks in one-third of an inning in the ninth.
Quintana helped his cause fielding grounders from Jose Reyes and Dominic Smith for outs in the first and second innings. Right fielder Jason Heyward battled the wind before making a catch of Dominic Smith drive and falling to his knees at the warning track.
