Javier Assad, Cubs blank Brewers

Chicago's Nico Hoerner sparked a three-run frame in the fifth inning to break a scoreless stalemate, while Javier Assad pitched six shutout innings in the Cubs' 5-0 victory over the visiting Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.

Dansby Swanson added his third home run of the season as Chicago took the three-game series, 2-1.

The Brewers, who had scored all eight of their runs of the series in the seventh inning or later, were unable to generate any threatening rallies in Sunday's series finale.

Assad (3-0) gave up just four hits and three walks over six innings, striking out four. Relievers Yency Almonte and Daniel Palencia followed his lead and kept the Brewers at bay in the combined shutout effort.

Almonte didn't allow any hits, runs or walks while striking out three batters in two innings of relief. Palencia closed the game, giving up one hit in the ninth and striking out two batters.

Milwaukee only had five hits on the afternoon as Chicago posted its third shutout win of the year.

Chicago had difficulties connecting against Milwaukee starter Freddy Peralta (3-1) early. The Cubs had just one hit through the first four innings.

With runners on first and second in the bottom of the fifth, Hoerner got the Cubs on the board first with a two-run double. He later scored when a wild pitch with two outs allowed him to come home for the third run of the game.

Peralta was pulled after five innings. He allowed three runs on three hits, with five strikeouts and six walks.

Swanson homered off Thyago Vieira in the sixth for the Cubs, and Christopher Morel followed up with an RBI single in the seventh inning to give the Cubs a 5-0 lead.

The Brewers were unable to deliver the timely hit and left runners in scoring position in six out of nine innings.