In the 233rd edition of Independence Day, it was the Milwaukee Brewers who set off all the fireworks.

The Brewers used a 5-run first inning to set up an 11-2 blowout win over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday afternoon from Wrigley Field.

Milwaukee got an early rally started in the 1st after Craig Counsell hit a lead-off single against Chicago starter Rich Harden.

2 batters later, Ryan Braun doubled off the right field ivy to put runners on 2nd & 3rd with just 1 out for Prince Fielder.

Fielder was then intentionally walked, which loaded the bases for Casey McGehee.

McGehee then hit a 2-run single past a diving Mike Fontenot at 2nd, which scored both Counsell & Braun to give the Brewers a 2-0 lead.

Mike Cameron then belted a 3-run homer (14th of season) to give Milwaukee a 5-0 lead.

The Cubs then had a chance to cut into their deficit in the bottom of the 1st after Derrek Lee reached safely on Corey Hart’s 2-0ut fielding error, which allowed Lee to take 2nd base.

Milton Bradley then drew a walk & Jake Fox singled to load the bases with 2 outs for Alfonso Soriano.

Soriano then grounded out to Casey McGehee at 3rd base to end the scoring threat.

The Brewers added another run in the top of the 2nd on J.J. Hardy’s 1-out solo homer (9th of season) off Harden, which gave Milwaukee a 6-0 lead.

Chicago had another chance to score in the bottom of the 2nd after Mike Fontenot hit a 1-out single against Milwaukee starter Braden Looper.

Rich Harden then reached 1st safely on a bunt single, which put runners on 1st & 2nd for Kosuke Fukudome.

Fukudome then singled, which loaded the bases with just 1 out for Ryan Theriot.

Theriot then hit into an inning-ending doubleplay.

The Brewers added 2 more runs in the 3rd after Casey McGehee hit a lead-off triple against Harden.

Mike Cameron then followed with an RBI double, which scored McGehee from 3rd base & gave Milwaukee a 7-0 lead.

That ended Rich Harden’s afternoon, as Cubs manager Lou Piniella went to his bullpen & called upon rookie righthander David Patton to face Corey Hart.

Hart reached on a fielder’s choice & advanced to 2nd on Jason Kendall’s groundout to Ryan Theriot at shortstop.

With 2 outs & Hart on 2nd base, Braden Looper grounded out to Theriot to end the inning.

Chicago scored their only runs of the game in the 3rd after Derrek Lee hit a lead-off single against Looper.

Milton Bradley then followed with a 2-run homer (6th of season) to make it a 7-2 game.

Milwaukee added 2 more runs in the 4th, which started after J.J. Hardy & Ryan Braun hit back-to-back 1-out singles against Patton.

Braun then stole 2nd base during Prince Fielder’s at-bat, who walked to load the bases for Casey McGehee.

Hardy then scored on a wild pitch during McGehee’s at-bat, which gave the Brewers a 8-2 lead.

McGehee immediately followed with an RBI single to left, which scored Braun from 3rd & gave Milwaukee a 9-2 lead.

Mike Cameron then drew a walk, which loaded the bases with just 1 out for Corey Hart.

Hart then lined out to Ryan Theriot at shortstop before Jason Kendall’s groundout to Jake Fox at 3rd base ended the inning.

The Brewers added 2 more runs in the 6th, which started after Prince Fielder hit a 1-out single off Cubs reliever Jeff Samardzija.

Casey McGehee then followed with a 2-run homer (6th of season), which made it an 11-2 game.

Milwaukee’s final rally came in the 7th after pinch-hitter Mike Gamel drew a lead-off walk from Samardzija.

Gamel then later took 2nd base on a wild pitch from Samardzija during J.J. Hardy’s at-bat, who grounded out to Ryan Theriot at shortstop.

Hardy was able to advance Gamel to 3rd, which brought up Ryan Braun with 2 outs.

Braun then popped up to Theriot at shortstop to end the inning.

Braden Looper (7-4) gets the win for Milwaukee after pitching 6 innings & allowed 2 runs on 6 hits while walking three & striking out three.

Rich Harden (5-5) takes the loss for the Cubs after allowing 7 runs on 8 hits in just a season-low 2 innings of work.

Chicago will try & win the series on Sunday afternoon at 1:20 PM cst from Wrigley Field, as southpaw Ted Lilly (7-6, 3.35) will face off against Milwaukee righthander Mike Burns (1-1, 3.31).

Lilly has been outstanding at Wrigley, as he sports a 4-1 record in 7 home starts with a 1.85 ERA.

Ted has not lost to Milwaukee since April 2nd, 2008.

Burns is replacing the injured Dave Bush (right arm fatigue) in the Brewers’ starting rotation & will make just his 3rd career start on Sunday.

Mike has allowed no runs in 4 previous innings pitched at Wrigley Field as a member of the Houston Astros & Cincinnati Reds.

Signing off for now,

Matt T for Cubshub.com