Recap: Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Jeff Bianchi's first career homer, a three-run blast in the second inning, gave Yovani Gallardo enough run support as the Milwaukee Brewers downed the Chicago Cubs, 4-1, at Wrigley Field.

Gallardo (14-8) capped a perfect August with seven innings of one-run ball. The right-hander allowed just three hits and three walks while striking out nine to extend his winning streak to six straight starts.

"When (Gallardo) wants to pitch...he's tough," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. "When the chips are down, I'd take him on the mound over anybody."

The Brewers have won seven of eight overall and seven in a row against their NL Central rival, including the first two in this four-game series.

Travis Wood (4-11) homered for Chicago's only run, but served up Bianchi's round-tripper to drop his eighth straight decision.

With two on and two outs in the second, Bianchi was given the green light on a 3-0 count and hammered a letter-high fastball over the left-field wall. It was the shortstop's 20th career at-bat.

"With the pitcher on deck, I was looking for a pitch out over the plate that I could drive. (Wood) left me a fastball up and I was able to capitalize on it," Bianchi said.

Wood, without much support from his offense, showed off his stroke in the third by taking an 0-2 pitch over the wall in left-center for his first homer as a member of the Cubs and third of his career.

The Cubs went to their bullpen in the eighth, and the Brewers added an insurance run when Rickie Weeks got caught up in a rundown long enough for Norichika Aoki to race home from third. Aoki had doubled with one out and stole third prior to Weeks working a walk.

Francisco Rodriguez hurled a perfect eighth and John Axford set down Chicago in order in the ninth to post his 21st save of the year.